Recounts ordered in B.C., Quebec ridings after narrow federal election results
Credit to Author: The Canadian Press| Date: Fri, 01 Nov 2019 15:25:59 +0000
OTTAWA — Courts in B.C. and Quebec have ordered recounts in two ridings where the runners-up are hoping a review could snatch victory from the jaws of ever-so-narrow defeat.
And there may be a third before the end of the day.
The first recount will take place next week in the riding of Port Moody–Coquitlam, where NDP hopeful Bonita Zarrillo lost to Conservative Nelly Shin by just 153 votes.
The New Democrats argued that there were 516 rejected ballots — an usually high number — along with evidence of a counting error in one poll and more than 250 unaccounted ballots. Combined, the party believed a judicial review was warranted.
Elections Canada says the recount will take place on Nov. 6, with the results to be published online once complete.
A second recount is being set up for the Montreal riding of Hochelaga, where Liberal Soraya Martinez Ferrada bested Bloc candidate Simon Marchand by 328 votes.
A Bloc Quebecois source who was not authorized to speak publicly told The Canadian Press there were discrepancies between the final result and the number of votes counted in the ballot boxes. Details of the recount were expected later Friday.
And a hearing is taking place on a second Bloc request for a recount in the riding of Quebec, where Liberal cabinet minister Jean-Yves Duclos won re-election by 325 votes to Bloc candidate Christiane Gagnon.