Maguire secures fourth term as MP

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This article was published 21/09/2021 (1503 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While the Conservative Party of Canada failed to gain ground on a national level, Brandon-Souris Conservative incumbent Larry Maguire is content with the fact that he was able to secure his seat for the fourth time.

As of Monday at 11 p.m., with 135 of 188 polls reporting in, Maguire retained his place in the riding by capturing around 58 per cent of the vote, with NDP candidate Whitney Hodgins coming in second place with around 22 per cent.

Talking to the Sun around 10:10 p.m. from his campaign headquarters on First Street in Brandon, Maguire said he was “very excited” to get back to work, especially since he views this recent federal election as nothing but a naked power grab by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“He called an election only for one reason: so that he can get a majority government. And he’s failed. So that’s cost Canadian $650 million and we’re no further ahead,” Maguire said. “So I think that’s something that Canadians are going to look at the next time we go to the polls.”

Compared to the 2019 federal election, Maguire’s victory reception on Monday night was a fairly quiet and reserved affair, with campaign staff being careful to limit their numbers to align with COVID-19 safety regulations.

However, Maguire’s team still appeared to be in good spirits after the local race was called, happy that Brandon-Souris will be under Conservative leadership for at least another couple years, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic still being a major factor in day-to-day life.

“People are very, very concerned about getting back to work on a regular basis, so they can help look after their families themselves and still do it on a sustainable basis, given that there’s quite a bit of inflation taking place already,” he said.

Monday’s election marked the fourth time that Maguire has won the right to be the MP for Brandon-Souris, having originally secured this seat in a 2013 byelection following the resignation of Merv Tweed.

In 2015, he was tested in a general election setting and bested his closest rival, Liberal candidate Jodi Wyman, by securing just over 50 per cent of the vote.

Maguire’s margin of victory widened even further in 2019, capturing 63.5 per cent of the vote over opponents Ashley Duguay (NDP, 14 per cent), Terry Hayward (Liberal, 12.1 per cent), Bill Tiessen (Green, 7.2 per cent) and Robin Lussier (PPC, 1.6 per cent).

The remaining votes in this election went to Independent candidates Vanessa Hamilton and Robert Eastcott, alongside Christian Heritage Party representative Rebecca Hein.

However, the makeup of this year’s federal election was very different, with the slate of candidates being cut in half.

This time, Maguire only had to contend with three political opponents in the form of Whitney Hodgins (NDP), Tylor Baer (People’s Party of Canada) and Linda Branconnier (Liberal).

However, as of Monday night, none of these candidates came close to stealing Maguire’s seat, with Baer and Branconnier obtaining around eight per cent and 12 per cent of the vote, respectively.

While there were some initial concerns about the PPC potentially stealing votes away from the Conservatives, that “Purple Wave” did not come to pass on Monday night, with Maguire stating that there really was no realistic option for Conservative voters outside of his party.

“It’s one thing to protest, it’s another thing to know who you are going to elect for the government,” he said, referring to the large protests that PPC candidates have been organizing throughout the campaign trail over vaccine mandates and pandemic safety measures.

Baer told the Sun around 10 p.m. he is still optimistic that there could potentially be a stronger turnout yet for the PPC in the riding.

Meanwhile, Hodgins also remained optimistic in the face of defeat, thankful for the chance to represent the NDP in Brandon-Souris.

“You always shoot to win, you went out and gave your community a choice, and that’s the best outcome,” she said. “I feel like you always have to hold out a little bit of hope. I’m open to the possibility of running again.”

Branconnier was not available to provide a direct comment on Monday night, with campaign manager Will Goodon offering to speak on her behalf.

Maguire’s history as a leader and decision-maker extends far beyond his run as the MP for Brandon-Souris.

The 72-year-old served as the MLA of Arthur-Virden from 1999 to 2013.

Before entering the realm of politics, Maguire’s past as a Westman farmer has led him to take on various leadership roles, becoming the president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers between 1995 and 1999.

One of Maguire’s latest legislative victories ties into his roots as a farmer, having sponsored a private member’s bill, Bill C-208, that amends the federal Income Tax Act to reduce the amount of taxes paid when a small business, farm or fishing corporation is transferred between family members.

In terms of what the future holds after the election, Maguire told the Sun that his biggest priority right now is restarting the economy here in Westman, with the pandemic still posing a significant threat.

“We’re got a big agricultural base here in our riding and we’ve just been through a drought,” he said.

“Obviously, continuing to get more processing in place for our agricultural goods for exports and other areas. We have to work with our neighbouring countries as well and make sure that we have trading opportunities. But we have to do it safely.”

The Brandon-Souris district itself has remained a Tory stronghold since its creation in 1952, hosting nothing but CPC representatives outside of a multi-year period between 1993 and 1997 when Liberal Party member Glen McKinnon served as MP.

» kdarbyson@brandonsun.com, with files from Kim Kielley

» Twitter: @KyleDarbyson