NDP out in Sudbury, Nickel Belt, but keep Timmins-James Bay, Algoma-Manitoulin
Canadians have elected a Liberal majority, and the story is no different in the Sudbury, Nickel Belt, Sault Ste. Marie and Nipissing-Timiskaming ridings.
In a close race in Nickel Belt, Liberal Marc Serre has ousted long-time incumbent New Democrat Claude Gravelle.
"It's a red wave. That's all it is. In 2011 it was an orange wave, this time it's a red wave," Gravelle said, noting that now he was very focused on his campaign locally.
"I wasn't paying attention to what was happening nationally and I don't know what's going to happen nationally — and frankly, I'm retired."
Serre said he knew there was a chance to unseat Gravelle during the last two weeks of the campaign. And now, "we're going to bring the voice of Nickel Belt to every decision in Ottawa."
"That's how you win elections. By hard work and hope. That is the Trudeau way as well," Lefebvre said. "Tonight Sudbury is back at the garment table again."
Across the rest of northeastern Ontario, there was a mix of orange and red.
In Sault Ste. Marie, Liberal Terry Sheehan had a big win over Conservative incumbent Bryan Hayes, with New Democrat Skip Morrison coming in behind.
Sheehan said that he knew there was a chance for a big liberal win after spending time with Trudeau in August.
"After that I was like, 'Wow, we can take a majority'."
While "some of the polls showed us having a large lead — [and] some said no — all I knew is that I had a good feeling."
A mistake 'corrected'
Rota won back his seat after a narrow loss in 2011.
"You think something didn't quite work out and you can't put your finger on it. And then you see these kinds of numbers come through," he said.
"Almost to say, there was a mistake made and we've corrected it. I feel great."
Aspin said he "knew winds of change were in the air. The media was whipping it up more than anything. I knew it was in the air, but I didn't think it would be as strong as it was."
He suggested the newly elected Rota will have his work cut out for him.
"I raised the bar and I got results and I'm hoping that he can do the same," Aspin said.
There were two long-time New Democrats who managed to hang on to their seats in northeastern Ontario.
It was a tight race in Timmins-James Bay, with New Democrat Charlie Angus hanging onto his seat in a good fight with Liberal Todd Lever. Conservative John Curley placed third.
But she said she would miss some of her many NDP colleagues who lost their seats in this federal election.
"It's a sore spot for me to see them go."
NDP back to 3rd party standing
Tonight's election results dealt a severe blow to the NDP which, at the beginning of the 11-week campaign, was considered a front-runner.
NDP leader Tom Mulcair, who gave no hint about his political future, told his supporters that the election has been about change and that Canadians had voted to turn the page on 10 years of Harper government. He said Trudeau made ambitious commitments and Canadians will have high expectations for their next Parliament.
The Liberal Party jumped to a solid lead early in the evening, as results suggested it would paint Atlantic Canada red and sweep the entire region.
The losses for the Conservatives include two cabinet ministers: Conservative Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea in P.E.I. and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister Bernard Valcourt in New Brunswick.
On Mobile? See map of northern Ontario election results here