Liberals defeat Bloc in Châteauguay–Lacolle riding after recount

After a recount, Liberal incumbent MP Brenda Shanahan will hold onto the riding of Châteauguay–Lacolle, defeating Bloc Québécois candidate Patrick O’Hara by a narrow margin.

According to Elections Canada, the final tally was 18,029 to 18,017 — a difference of only 12 votes, or .02 per cent.

“The citizens of Châteauguay–Lacolle have renewed their confidence in the Liberal Party and it will be a great honour for me to represent them for a third term in the House of Commons,” Shanahan said on Twitter Wednesday.

“I thank Mr. Patrick O’Hara and his team for an excellent campaign.”

She acknowledged the recount was a trying process for everybody.

Chief Electoral Officer of Canada Stéphane Perrault announced the recount in Châteauguay–Lacolle, located west of Montreal, on Friday. At the time, the difference between the two leading candidates was 286 votes. 

A huge thanks to all the folks of #Chateauguay-Lacolle for renewing their confidence in me as a result of the recount of #elexn44 and I thank Mr. Patrick O’Hara and his team for an excellent campaign.

—@BShanahanLib

O’Hara was declared the winner with a 0.59 per cent margin over Shanahan, who was first elected in 2015. At the time, it was the seventh-closest riding in the federal election. Shanahan requested the recount.

The Liberal Party said that it is “important that every vote is counted.”

“The Liberal campaign has full confidence in the avenues provided for in the Canada Elections Act for close results like the one in Châteauguay-Lacolle,” Liberal spokesperson Braeden Caley said in a statement to CBC News.

Possible issue with ballot box

The recount began Monday and was conducted by Justice Anne Jacob of the Superior Court of Quebec. 

Elections Canada confirmed it detected a possible issue with one of the ballot boxes after the results had been finalized. The agency did not offer details.

“Since validation, Elections Canada has become aware of a potential anomaly with the results reported for a single ballot box at an advance poll,” Elections Canada spokesperson Natasha Gauthier said in a statement to CBC News.  

A recount was also called in the electoral district of Trois-Rivières, requested by Conservative candidate Yves Lévesque.

The difference between the two leading candidates in that riding was 92 votes. Bloc Québécois candidate René Villemure was declared the winner nearly two days after the election.