Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 29, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba Murray continued from Page a1 Fletcher congratulated Murray on a Job Well done and praised him for bring ing the Issue of the infrastructure deficit to the National stage. That was a great service to Canada and to Winnipeg Fletcher said. Fletcher said he spent a tense evening watching the returns with his family even Fielding Calls from a brother in san Diego who helped track the results on the internet. Despite winning by a narrow margin Fletcher said he would do his Best to represent All his constituents. Regardless of their political background or their socioeconomic status or ethnicity i a Here to represent everyone in Charleswood St. the conservatives held firm in their Rural Manitoba seats with inky Mark Dauphin Swan rive Merv president Reg Alcock won handily in Winnipeg South Anita Neville shrugged off rumours of her demise in Winnipeg South Centre and Raymond Simard finished strongly in Saint Boniface. However after the big three it was All downhill for the liberals. Star Candi dates Murray and David Northcott were denied a trip to Ottawa. Or. Rey Pagtakhan minister responsible for West Ern economic diversification who took a risk by running against popular nip my Judy was lycia leis in Winnipeg North was turned Back at the polls in convincing fashion. And former City councillor Terry toughest i be Ever Pagtakhan 69, who had become the first filipino elected to the House of commons and first to become a Cabinet minister could not avoid the obvious consequences of his decision to take was lycia leis on head to head. The figures look like we did not make it this election Pagtakhan said. I have to concede. We gave it our Best Effort but we have to accept that the electorate is always another Liberal Star candidate for Mer Winnipeg Harvest head David Northcott was unable to overcome the nip stronghold built by incumbent my Pat Martin. Northcott lost by More than 1,000 votes. Its disappointing not to be Able to carry the Banner Forward said North Cott. It will be disappointing for the Northcott said there a a Strong possibility he will run again in the next fed eral election. The Sharp tongued Martin who distinguished himself by threatening to punch Northcott following a radio debate said he was somewhat concerned about the Liberal strategy of trying to lure nip voters to Stop a conservative government. In the end the voters of Winnipeg Cen tre one of the poorest Ridings in Canada decided it was More important to have a Strong voice in opposition Martin said. They re pretty Damn shrewd Martin said of the liberals. A Little Short on ethics but pretty smart.?. Duguid once thought a shoo in in disappointing Paul could not prevail against renewed nip not to be Able to support and a solid carry the Banner showing by the Green party. Former tory Forward. It will be la Joy Smith who campaigned for the disappointing better part of a year in the Riding is making for the issues her first trip to the House of commons. ? Defeated Liberal candidate for was lycia leis David Northcott the Victory Over Pagtakhan was Sweet. The Stronach prevails in Ontario Nail biter Aurora ont. ? multimillionaire Belinda Stronach started her Day yesterday standing beside a Highway in the pouring rain urging passing commuters one last time to vote for her. Her Day ended with a subdued Victory party at the Swanky banquet Hall Dinar Dos mansion with the Rookie conserva Tive my contemplating a future that includes commuting to and from Ottawa French lessons but no seat at the Cabinet table. Just a few months after narrowly win Ning her party a nomination Stronach squeaked by her rivals in Newmarket Aurora a sprawling Well to do Riding North of Toronto Only to find her party a High Hopes to form the next Federal government had been dashed by an Unco operative electorate. I Don to know about you but i have no fingernails left Stronach said just after Midnight yesterday when she was finally elected after a tight race against lib eral Martha Hall Findlay. Despite the Long Days of door knocking and handshakes the 38-year-old divorced Mother of two said she still had plenty of Energy and that she would do it All Over again even in six months or a year if necessary. I be got lots of Gas in the tank she told the Canadian press her eyes show ing the Strain of what had been in effect a gruelling six month Campaign for her. Burnout that a not even in my Stronach a political baptism came with her run for the leadership of the merged conservative and Alliance parties in March when she finished a respectable second to Stephen Harper someone she portrayed As a perennial loser. Stronach never did shake the image of Star candidate or As one columnist described her the curiosity she attracted the attention of time Magazine and was the Only election hopeful sought out by Fox news for a personal meeting. Hers was also the Only Riding Fox visited. Stronach insisted yesterday she a the real Deal that she a in politics for the Long haul and to make a difference. ? Canadian press Tweed Brandon Souris Brian Pallister Portage Lis Garvic Toews Provencher and James Bezan Selkirk Interlake All elected with convincing majorities. The nip did not gain a seat in this election but held steadfastly to their four seats including Bev Desjarlais in Churchill Pat Martin in Winnipeg Cen tre Judy was lycia leis in Winnipeg North and Bill Blaikie in Elmwood Transcona. The liberals Hung on with ease to their three strongest seats. Treasury Board decision by one sitting my to Challenge another was prompted by Riding redistribution but nip supporters in the City treated Pagtakhan a Challenge As a Polit ical holy War. Last night the nip faithful came out on top with resounding results beating the venerable Pagtakhan a hero in Winnipeg a filipino Community by More than 2,000 votes. This is wonderful was lycia leis said. We went from a race too close to Call to a massive Victory. This is my 10th election Campaign and its been the ;