Mona Fortier holds OttawaVanier for Liberals in byelection

Residents in OttawaVanier have elected a woman to represent them for the first time in the federal riding's history, as Liberal Mona Fortier was the clear winner in Monday's byelection.

• Elections Canada: Get the latest results

With all 255 polling stations reporting as of 1:05 a.m. Tuesday,Fortierhad 15,190 votes, or51.2 per cent of the popular vote.

Her next closest competitor was NDP candidateEmilieTaman, with 8,523 votes, or 28.7per cent of the vote. Conservative Party candidate AdrianPaparawas third with 4,578 votes, or 15.4 per cent.

Elections Canada estimated voter turnout at 34.1 per cent of registered voters.

The results are not yet official.

'We can't take it for granted'

Fortier told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning Tuesday the Liberals can't take their domination of the riding for granted.

Asked about the slightly narrower margin of victory compared to the general election, Fortier said it's difficult to compare.

"Comparing to a general election is very hard. ... I think that I'm very proud of getting over 50 per cent of the vote. I think that people did come out, but for a byelection it's kind of normal to see that not as many go out to vote," she said.

On the campaign, Fortiersaid pensions, affordable housing and jobs were among her constituents' top concerns.Ongoing Phoenix pay system problems for federal public servants didn't come up very often while knocking on doors, she said.

"No, actually, not that much. But I did get some calls and I think that we're really working hard to getthis issue resolved. I can't believe how hard it must be for the public servants that are touched by Phoenix, that they have families, and we have to really get this fixed," Fortier said.

Favours official bilingualismfor Ottawa

She also said she's in favour of Ottawa becoming officially bilingual, something Mayor Jim Watson isn't supporting.

• ANALYSIS: Why the debate on making Ottawa officially bilingual won't go away
• Mayor Jim Watson heckled over bilingualism stand

"Our city has much more added value with the Francophonie.... Ottawa being officially bilingual can bring much more to our city," she said.

"I'm hoping I'll encourage [Watson] and work with him and municipal councillors.... We have to push the fact that our diversity is really our strength and that's what I'll be working very hard to demonstrate."

FortiersucceedsMaurilBlanger

TheOttawaVanier seat has been empty since the death in August oflongtime MP Mauril Blanger, who had represented the ridingsince 1995.

Fortieris a businesswoman and Liberal party organizer who worked with Blanger on eight campaigns.

"Our dear friend Mauril Blanger was not only a steward of OttawaVanier but also a fighter for what is right," Fortiertold the crowd after winning the race Monday night. "It pains me to be standing here instead of him."

Mona Fortier talks about Mauril Belanger

7 years ago

Duration 0:23

Liberal candidate Mona Fortier will be taking the seat of longtime Ottawa-Vanier representative Mauril Belanger. She spoke about it with mixed emotions.Belanger's widowCatherine, however, said Monday night thather husband would be pleasedFortier was taking his place.

"This is a diverse riding and I have real hopes she will be looking after the people as much as my husband did," said CatherineBlanger.

Fortierwasexpected to win,as Liberals have held the seat since it was created in 1935.

Strong showing for Taman

But Tamanhad a strong showing for the NDP, improving on her 2015 election contest againstBlanger.

In that voteBlanger won with 57 per cent of the vote, with Taman and then-Conservative candidateDavid Piccinieach garneringabout 19 per cent of the vote.

Taman said she was pleased with the result and that she was proud of her campaign.

"I think its one of the best showings we've ever had in the riding and I think we sent a clear message to the government, win or lose, that there is dissatisfaction with the government," said Taman.

Fortiercongratulated Tamanon her campaign, and said as two women running in a riding that had never elected one before, they were running alongside each other, not against each other.

"When you elect more women to Parliament, we push each other to be better, not divisive," said Fortier.

OttawaVanier is one of five federal ridings that heldbyelections Monday.

• Tories projected to hold Calgary seats, Liberals to keep Ottawa, Montreal,Markham
• Midtermbyelectionsto test Liberal government and leaderless opposition parties

It'sis a largeand diverse riding that includes the neighbourhoods of the ByWard Market, Sandy Hill, New Edinburgh, Rockcliffe Park, Vanier, Overbrookand Gloucester.

It has a population of 111,508, according to the 2016 census.