Liberals hold on to NDG-Westmount seat in federal byelection

Liberal Anna Gaineyhas wonthe federal byelection in the Montreal riding of Notre-Dame-de-GrceWestmount.

The seat was left vacant when former Liberal cabinet ministerMarc Garneauretired in March from a political career that spanned14 years.

Gainey spoke to her supporters Monday night during a small celebration.

"I am humbled by yourconfidence in me," she said. "It is an absolute privilegeto serve the community and I thank you for your trust."

She also thanked the volunteers who helped her with the campaign.

"You worked so hard, giving so muchtime and energyover these last few weeks," she said.

Gainey served as a policy advisor to two ministersof national defence and veterans affairs, and as president of the federalLiberal party.Most recently, she has been executive chair of a think tank, Canada 2020.

Gainey has also served on the boards of several local and national volunteer organizations, including WarChild Canada, the Pointe--Callire Museum, and theFondation de l'Institut de Cardiologie de Montral.

She is also founder of the Gainey Foundation, which provides funding for environmental and arts education programs for youth, her profile says on the Liberal Party's website.

There were10 candidates on the ballot inNotre-Dame-de-GrceWestmount, including Jonathan Pedneault for the Green Party, Jean-Franois Filionfor the NDP, and Conservative Mathew Kaminski. The full list of candidates can be found here.

Pedneaultisa human rights activist, former journalist and deputy leader of the Green Party.Filionis a long-timeEnglish teacherand a member of the Committee of Relations with Indigenous People.Kaminski has work experience in public audit and institutional investment accounting.

The polls opened at 9:30 a.m. and closed at 9:30 p.m.

There were over 73,000 eligible voters inNDGWestmount. By 8 a.m.Tuesday,Gainey had 50 per cent of the 21,721votes. All204 polls have reported.

The riding is a longtime Liberal stronghold. Before retiring, Garneauhad held the seat since 2008 when the riding was known asWestmountVille-Marie.Its name and boundaries were changed in 2015.

Garneau won the riding with over 50 per cent of the vote in the last three general elections.

Before him, another former Liberal cabinet minister, Lucienne Robillard, represented WestmountVille-Marie from 1997 until she resigned her seat in 2008.

NDG-Westmount is one of four federal ridings that byelections on Monday. The results can be found here.