Martin Shields re-elected in Bow River

By Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean Times Contributor

The campaign period was only 40 days and Monday night it came to its ultimate conclusion with a split government and the chance for a coalition government.
It may surprise few in Alberta to know the province went blue with strong Conservative support. Across the country, however, the results were mixed.
The Liberals had a minority government with 157 seats, the Conservative Party of Canada had 121 seats, with the Bloc Quebecois securing 32 seats in Quebec, the NDP with 24 and Greens with 3 seats. Former Justice Minister and Attorney General, Jody Wilson-Raybould, won in her riding of Vancouver-Granville as an Independent.
As expected, Martin Shields, Bow River’s incumbent candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada, was victorious in his run for a seat in Parliament.
“I’m very humbled,” Shields said from Brooks on election night. “There are a lot of volunteers to thank: people putting up signs, organizing events, door-knocking; I’m proud of the many people who supported me.”
While the national loss may not have been what the Conservatives were hoping for this election, the work does not stop, Shields said.
“We’re in a minority government now. Decisions still need to be made.
“The electorate didn’t want to reward the Liberals with a majority government, but we still have work to do. We will continue to support the Trans Mountain (Pipeline) expansion to see that it gets built.”
In an earlier interview, Shields stated he would continue to advocate for both inter-provincial and international trade for the agriculture industry, pipeline construction, and also focus on keeping waterways clear of invasive species and improving rural internet access.