Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 29, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba Twelve pages on How Canada voted b1-12 tuesday june 29, 2004 Martin wins minority nip bloc both make big gains by Paul Samyn o Ottawa ? Paul Martins liberals held on to Power last night beating Back voter anger Over the sponsorship scandal to grab control of a minority govern ment Likely to be propped up by the nip. While Martin was humbled by the loss of 32 seats and several Cabinet minis ters the prime minister survived to secure the fourth straight grit govern ment since 1993 on the strength of 135 maps elected according to results Avail Able Early this morning. Canadians have sent us two messages today Martin said. Canadians expected and expect More from us As a party. Canadians we must do better expected and and we will. At the same time expect More millions of Canad from us As a ans have cast their ballots for the kind party. We of Canada we want must do to better and Martin also promised to give we will canadians the ? Paul Martin accountability they demand. We will work hard As a government to represent the views of canadians i and we will do it while demonstrating Hon esty integrity and a deep respect for tax payers for the country a right wingers it was another night of disappointment As Stephen harpers newly United conservatives fell far Short of polling predictions which had them running neck and neck with the liberals on the eve of the vote. Not Only were the conservatives once again denied a major breakthrough in vote Rich Ontario they failed to consolidate the vote from the old tories and Canadian Alliance As they finished with 98 seats ? Only 24 More than they had at the Start of the Campaign. Harpers conservatives were shut out of Quebec and they lost ground in Atlantic Canada. Tonight our new party has in a very Short period of time made historic strides across this country. Successful or not we fought a tremendous Battle from coast to coast Harper said. I will admit i feel some disappoint ment tonight. We will remind the Liber als they have been sent a Martins win marked a remarkable turnaround for the liberals who spent much of the Campaign on the ropes and had Many members of their team Brac ing for a possible conservative Victory. Continued please see Martin a2 total number of seats party 2004 vote Canada Liberal 135 36.8% conservative 98 29.6% nip 20 15.6% bloc 54 12.7% other 1 5.7% ? 63,666 of 64,555 polls reporting Manitoba Liberal 3 33.2% conservative 7 39.2% nip 4 23.5% other 0 4.2% ? 2,493 of 2,528 polls reporting sex mayor Murray Pagtakhan Defeated by Dan Lett the Liberal slide to a minority govern ment last night left significant Collater Al damage in Manitoba where the grits lost a Cabinet minister and two Star candidates ? including former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray. The source of the Liberal losses was a renewed and United conservative party which took two seats in Winnipeg and seven in total across the province. The liberals were reduced to just three seats while the nip held firm with four seats. Winnipeg which had been without a conservative my of any Stripe since 1993, now has two former la Joy Smith in Kildonan St. Paul and Steven Fletcher the first quadriplegic Ever elected to the House of commons who squeaked out a narrow Victory in Charleswood St. James. Fletcher in particular played giant killer taking Down the charismatic Mur Ray in a Battle that see sawed All night Long. Murray had been invited person ally to jump into the election by prime minister Paul mar i a Here tin and his decision to leave City Hall was to represent hailed by the grits As everyone in a coup. Murray a knowl Charleswood edged from the St. James beginning he was taking a huge Politi ? Steven Cal risk leaving a Job Fletcher that had helped him forge a National reputation to hold the Liberal fort in a Riding where combined Alliance and tory voters formed a potent majority. However Murray entered the election just a week before the writ was dropped and then ran a curiously Low key Campaign that saw him drop out of sight from the Media for weeks on end. Murray arrived just moments before Fletcher at the conservative victors Campaign Headquarters to offer his congratulations on a Campaign Well run. You ran an excellent Campaign and i wish you every Success in Ottawa Mur Ray told Fletcher. Surrounded by supporters chanting Steven Steven while someone played when the saints go marching in on the saxophone Fletcher was mobbed As he was helped from his specialized Van. Continued please see Murray a4 ;