Tightest race in the country won't have election recount, says new MP Daniel Blaikie
Blaikie says Conservative Lawrence Toet called him to say he won't seek recount
Newly elected Elmwood-Transcona NDP MP Daniel Blaikie says he can get down to business now that his main opponent, Conservative Lawrence Toet, will not seek a recount of the results in Monday's close race.
Blaikie confirmed to CBC News that he was contacted by Toet on Wednesday, after their campaign teams met to discuss the election results.
Toet, who was the incumbent in the riding, and Blaikie traded leads as the election results came in on Monday night before the New Democrat squeaked past by a margin of just 51 votes.
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"We had a meeting at the returning office this morning just to confirm the results and, you know, make sure that all the math was done properly," Blaikie said Wednesday afternoon.
"In light of the results of that meeting, he wanted to let me know that his campaign would not be pursing a recount and offered his congratulations."
Blaikie said he thanked Toet not only for contacting him, but also for "a fair, hard-fought campaign."
"Now we're going to get down to the business of moving ahead and opening an office and getting down to work," he said.
No one from Toet's campaign has been available for comment.