The Conservative MP for Huron-Bruce says by-election victories in Vaughan and northwestern Manitoba are proof the Harper government is on the right track.
Ben Lobb says Monday’s win by Julian Fantino in Vaughan provides a boost to the Conservative agenda.
Lobb points to Fantino’s background as Chief of the Toronto, London and York Police Services and his time as Commissioner of the OPP.
Fantino took a narrow victory over Liberal candidate Tony Genco in a riding that had been a Grit stronghold since 1988.
Lobb believes the Conservative win in the Manitoba riding of Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette underscores what his party says is the Liberals’ abandonment of rural Canada.
While not saying the northwestern Manitoba vote was a referendum on scrapping the long-gun registry Lobb says the outcome speaks loud and clear.
He says the Conservative victory there gives credibility to those who advocate getting rid of the registry.
Lobb counsels his colleagues not to put too much into yesterday’s by-election victories.
Lobb says it’s important to work on the upcoming federal budget first and — in his words — “get it right” before worrying about a general election.
The only riding the Tories didn’t take was in the city of Winnipeg where the Liberals defeated the New Democrats in what was seen as an upset.
