Labrador West has elected its representative, choosing Nick McGrath with the Progressive Conservative party with almost precisely one half of the vote share.
McGrath, who ran for the position last year, said the results were a weight lifted.
“This has probably been the longest day of my life,” he said. “It’s an amazing feeling. I’ve been waiting for a long time, working in the community for all these years. Now I’m finally in a position that I can do something with all those years experience.”
McGrath says that the results have strengthened his determination.
“Today the people of Labrador West have spoken,” he said. “And they say they’re pleased with the direction the Progressive Conservative government is moving in. They have given me the confidence vote to represent them, and I’m very proud to say it’s over 50 per cent of the vote, and that’s a good place to be. My voice of experience will be their voice in the house of assembly, and on the new energy of the Dunderdale government, we will build Labrador West even more.”
McGrath says the first steps from here are planning.
“I think I’ve got to settle down first and let reality kick in,” he said. “The big thing with my campaign was the three H’s: Housing, the highway, and the hospital. I need to sit down now and find out where we’re going to go forward with those issues.”
Tom Harris, local candidate for the NDP Party, says that no matter what the results, the community is always right.
“The membership is never wrong,” he said. “The people voted for what they think is best, and I look forward to working with Mr. McGrath in the future.”
Harris says that his party has made great strides, despite not winning the majority.
“We have certainly moved forward with regards to where we need to be to eventually form a government,” he said. “And that’s what we look at, that’s what counts.”
Karen Oldford, local Liberal Candidate, has equal optimism.
“It’s been a battle, no doubt it has been,” she said. “But we fought it with our heads held high, in very innovative and unique ways. You know, it’s always sad when it comes down to a time like this and you know you didn’t win the battle, but we live to fight another day and we will fight another day. Our job now is to keep Mr. McGrath’s feet to the fire, which is what I said to him when I congratulated him and as deputy mayor I will continue to hold his government up to what is needed here in Labrador West.”
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