New Democrat candidate Jeremy Leveque said the majority of Canadians were hungry for change this election, however many were not interested in what the NDP had to offer.
“People desperately wanted change. They wanted to get away from the Harper Conservatives and I can’t blame them,” he said. “That’s precisely why I put my name in the ring because I wanted to be the agent of that change… We ran the best campaign that we could, we stood on our principles and we made Canadians a serious offer and unfortunately for us they chose to go with another offer, but that’s democracy.”
Support for the NDP slipped nationally as well as here in Delta.
Leveque garnered just 15 per cent of the vote, coming in third behind Liberal Carla Qualtrough and Conservative incumbent Kerry-Lynne Findlay.
In 2011, NDP candidate Nic Slater ran second to Findlay in Delta-Richmond East and the party made up the official Opposition by winning 103 seats. This time the party won just 44 seats.
Leveque, a long-time party member, said the NDP will now have four years to connect with Canadians.
“Today is election day of the 42nd election but it’s the start of the 43rd election if nothing else,” he said Monday night.
Leveque had praise for Qualtrough.
“She and I may disagree on things in terms of policy but she was an honourable competitor and I think she will make an excellent member of Parliament for Delta,” he said.
Green Party candidate Anthony Devellano garnered just three per cent of the vote.
