[LINK] "Liberals take Labrador, as Jones wins big over Penashue"

[rfmcdonald]

Former Conservative MP Peter Penashue, once not only the representative of the federal riding of Labrador, has been decisively defeated by his Liberal opponent, Yvonne Jones. The CBC commentary is likely correct in noting that this represents the riding's return to its traditional Liberal alignment, as the party has recovered from its 2011 nadir. The import of this for wider Canadian politics remains unclear, although as Jones herself notes it's certainly symbolic.

Yvonne Jones recaptured what has traditionally been safe Liberal ground, rolling up a big victory over Conservative Peter Penashue in Labrador’s federal byelection.

“When I was reflecting on this election win tonight, I was saying, ‘You know, I'm the first person in the country to beat the Harper government in a byelection,'" Jones told supporters at a victory party in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

"But that could never happen without all of you and many more across Labrador."

Jones garnered 5,814 votes to Penashue’s 3,922.

With all 91 polls reporting, the Liberal candidate’s share of the vote was 48 per cent, compared with 33 per cent for the Conservative candidate and 19 per cent for the NDP’s Harry Borlase.

[. . .]

Penashue — a prominent Innu leader — wrested the riding away for the Conservatives in 2011, eking out a 79-vote win. He garnered less than 40 per cent of the ballots cast, and was helped by a stronger than expected NDP showing that siphoned off Liberal support.

Up until that surprise victory two years ago, the region had only once gone Conservative blue since Newfoundland and Labrador joined Canada in 1949.

Penashue quit as MP in March after repaying $30,000 in compensation for “ineligible contributions” he accepted during the 2011 election. He immediately announced he would run in the ensuing byelection.