New Brunswick seats remain unchanged after election
While the votes are still being counted across the country (Elections Canada suspended the vote count at 4 a.m. Atlantic and will reconvene for special ballot vote counting at 10:30 a.m. Atlantic), Tobique-Mactaquac incumbent MP Richard Bragdon knew early in the evening that he would return to Ottawa.
Bradgon easily won the riding he has represented since 2019, with more than 60 per cent of the vote, with all but one poll counted.
His closest competitor, Liberal Julian Moulton, claimed around 32 per cent of the vote.
During his victory speech, Bragdon thanked his supporters who had gathered at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Centre in Woodstock, telling them he was “thrilled” to continue representing the riding.
“We had a great team, and we worked hard,” he told the River Valley Sun following his speech. “You always work as hard as you can and run like you are five points down and never stop running until the end of the campaign.”
Bragdon said that throughout his time on the campaign trail, he had heard the same stories and fears of constituents struggling.
“To hear the stories at the door and to hear the challenges that people are facing, whether it’s the cost of living, or affordability, longing for the Canada we grew up in,” he said. “I hope that we are entrusted with the ability to govern in whatever shape that may take.”
Bragdon and his supporters continued to watch results from across Canada. Despite not knowing the outcome, he was quick to pledge to work for his constituents, whether as the party in power or by holding the government’s “feet to the fire.”
“If we have the opportunity to govern it’s going to be like a breath of fresh air, a fresh start,” he said. “But, if we go back in as opposition, you hold the government to account and make sure you are that critical lense that is looking at the decisions to make sure the best policies possible come forward.”
Bragdon pointed to the hot-button carbon tax, noting it was clearly not made with rural Canadians and rural living in mind.
“It is important that rural Canadians feel like they have a strong voice and standing up for small towns, agriculture, resources, manufacturing, trucking, these are things that fill our region, and we need more voices in the house of Commons,” he said. “So, hopefully we’re in government, we’ll be able to release our potential as a country and if we happen to be in opposition again, we hold governments feet to the fire and make sure our region is represented, and the concerns of our people are being heard.”
Bragdon has represented the riding since 2019 and won the 2021 election with 51 per cent of the vote over Liberal candidate Cully Robinson.
Previously, the incumbent MP introduced a bill aimed at reducing recidivism. That bill was passed into law, preventing criminals from reoffending after serving their sentence by supporting them with reintegration and rehabilitation programs.
