Liberals hang on to St. Boniface-St. Vital

Liberal candidate Ginette Lavack rode to victory in St. Boniface-St. Vital.

Lavack bested Conservative candidate Shola Agboola with 56 per cent of the vote, while Agboola came in a distant second with 35 per cent of the vote.

“We did it. We really did it,” Lavack said from her election night headquarters at Fort Gibraltar in the heart of St. Boniface, flanked by supporters and former MP Dan Vandal.

Supporters roared with applause as Lavack walked in to the tune of Serena Ryder’s Circle of the Sun.

The former director of the Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre was chosen as the Liberal candidate after cabinet minister Dan Vandal announced he would not seek re-election.

Other than sporadic periods of Conservative leadership, St. Boniface-St. Vital has largely been represented by the Liberals since its inception in the 1920s.

Vandal beat out the Conservative candidate in three elections between 2015 and 2021 before announcing his retirement.

Prior to Vandal’s leadership, Tory Shelly Glover held the seat for two terms under former prime minister Stephen Harper.

As he watched the results roll in, Vandal called Lavack the best person to lead the riding.

“I think she’s passionate, she’s qualified and she’s anchored in the community. That’s what you need to represent the constituency,” he said.

A steady stream of guests remained in high spirits as election coverage projected on the wall announced multiple Liberal wins across the country.

Lavack said she will be an MP for all people in the riding.

“I know there’s real concerns about cost of living, housing, health care, the future of our planet, all of that. I hear you, I see you,” Lavack told the crowd of about 75 people. “I will collaborate with all levels of government to ensure that our community gets the support and services it deserves.”

Some voters in the riding opted to vote strategically.

At the Champlain Community Centre earlier Monday, Andre Gomes was conflicted about his decision to vote for Lavack.

“I’m voting because I feel like it’s my civic duty, but I’m unhappy about it,” he said. “I would rather vote NDP.”

Gomes, 34, said he prefers a Liberal government than a Conservative one.

Sporting a black T-shirt emblazoned with the word “Canada,” Curtis — who declined to give his last name — said he would be voting for NDP candidate Thomas Linner, hoping the Liberals would form a minority government.

“I think that when we have a minority government, there’s checks and balances,” he said.

Agboola finished a distant second to Vandal in 2021, receiving 28 per cent of the vote. Vandal was re-elected with 43 per cent.

Linner took just 7.5 per cent of the vote.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca