TIMMINS - Corey Lepage made an election night promise.
In the next four years, the 24-year-old NDP candidate is committed to doing the work to win the riding next time.
Lepage knew the snap winter election would be an uphill battle.
"We were hopeful when the election results were coming in and the results are what they are. I’m so happy we’re still the official opposition. The NDP stood strong throughout the province. Yes, it was a good time for Doug Ford to call an election, he knew it was likely for him to win another majority, but we worked so hard to get to where we are," he said at his election night party held at Lady Luck restaurant.
The room was full of boisterous supporters, including his family, and campaign manager — longtime Timmins MPP Gilles Bisson, who served for 32 years and also happens to be Lepage's uncle.
Bisson was emotional — and momentarily speechless — talking about Lepage's campaign.
“I am so proud of you,” he said, fighting back tears.
“When you came to me at first, I thought that’s kind of interesting. But what you demonstrated is you’ve got the ability to do this job. You would be the best MPP we can ever have in this riding and you would be one of the best MPPs that we can have at Queen’s Park.”
The local riding was held by Bisson for decades, with the Progressive Conservatives winning the seat in the 2022 election. PC George Pirie was re-elected on Thursday.
The unofficial results have Pirie with 9,431 votes (68.55 per cent), and Lepage with 2,732 votes (19.86 per cent).
Working alongside Bisson on this campaign helped Lepage.
“You’re never fully prepared for this type of position, for this type of job. Being alongside Gilles throughout this whole time really taught me a lot,” he said.
Lepage has a positive outlook for the future and is proud of himself and the work of all the campaign volunteers.
“Of course you’re always disappointed when you lose, but that’s not what I’m taking away from this. What I’m taking away is that four years from now when I run again we’re going to have a hell of a team running with us, and we’re going to hit the ground running and we’re going to win next time.”
