Watson records fourth election win

Economy, border will be top priorities

By Andy Comber – May 4, 2011

The Canadian Transportation Museum proved to be a fitting location for Conservative candidate Jeff Watson, Monday night, as he cruised to his fourth consecutive victory as MP for the Essex riding.

Conservative candidate Jeff Watson embraces campaign volunteer Sandra Stothard-Bruce of Harrow, following his re-election as MP in the Essex riding, Monday at the Canadian Transportation Museum in Essex.

Joined by his wife Sarah and five children, Watson was greeted with cheers and embraces from supporters as he made his way to the podium.

“This has been the best campaign we have run from start to finish,” Watson told campaign volunteers. “I will be personally thanking each and every one of you. “

Watson noted that voters in Essex and across the country had “voted for stability” – handing the Conservatives and leader Stephen Harper a majority government in Ottawa.

“We need that time of stability,” Watson said.

The budget, economy and border would be among the first priorities to be tackled by the majority Conservatives, he said.

“We need to get that budget through – to complete all the things that Canadians expected us to do.”

Watson said the federal government would work to eliminate the deficit ahead of schedule and get the economy back on track.

“We need to fully turn this economy around for the future,” he said. “We have to diversify.”

The stability of a majority government in Canada will encourage Michigan to support a new bridge crossing, creating thousands of jobs, Watson said.

“DRIC is the next big thing.”

According to Election Canada, Watson secured over 25,000 votes, compared to over 18,000 for NDP candidate Taras Natyshak, and just over 7,500 for Liberal candidate Nelson Santos.

Santos made no apologies for what he called his “low key” and “quiet” campaign.

“The message was positive, we stayed on top of our issues,” he said to a group of supporters gathered at Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens in Ruthven. But despite his campaign team's efforts to canvas six towns in less than six weeks' time, Santos said the message at the door was clear.

“There’s a message in those numbers,” he said, referring to the Liberal Party’s loss of a large number of seats since the 2008 election.

“Canadians wanted a change.”

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Conservatives had a clear majority with 166 seats. The NDP secured 102 seats and the Liberals were reduced to 35 seats. The Bloc Québécois recorded about four seats.