Jean Yip, widow of late Arnold Chan, wins Scarborough-Agincourt byelection - Action News
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Jean Yip, widow of late Arnold Chan, wins Scarborough-Agincourt byelection

Jean Yip has won the federal byelection race to replace her late husband, Arnold Chan, as MP for Scarborough Agincourt.

Yip wins with 49.4% of the vote, besting Conservative candidate Dasong Zou

CBC News is projecting Jean Yip the winner of a federal byelection race to replace her late husband Arnold Chan as MP for Scarborough-Agincourt. (CBC)

Jean Yip has won the federal byelection race to replace her late husband, Arnold Chan, as MP for Scarborough Agincourt.

Yip, who ran for the Liberals,has received 9,091votes. Banking professional and Conservative candidate DasongZoufinished with 7,448.

"I know he would be so proud of me today," Yip said ofChanin a victory speech Monday night. "Arnold would havereally loved this campaign because it brought all his friends together, federally, provincially, the Liberal Party and even friends who are not political."

Yip added that she took inspiration from people who'd lost their partners in life as well as single parents "who have moved forward and continue their dreams.

"I am so grateful for the tremendous support that you have all given me."

Jean Yip is leading the polls in a federal byelection race to replace her late husband Arnold Chan as MP for Scarborough-Agincourt. (Victor Modderman/CBC)

Seven candidates, including two independents, vied for theScarborough-Agincourtseat.

The riding, whichruns from Victoria Park to Midland Avenues and from Highway 401 toSteelesAvenue,became vacant following the death of Liberal MP Arnold Chan from cancer at age 50in September.

Brian Chang was theNDPcandidate. MichaelDiPasquale ran for the Green Party, while JudeCoutinhoranfor the Christian Heritage Party. The independents include John "The Engineer"Turmeland TomZhu.

Polls closed at 9:30 p.m.

Liberal MP Arnold Chan, who died of cancer in September, is flanked by Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, left, and MP Dominic LeBlanc, right, in the House of Commons on Sept. 15, 2014 in Ottawa. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

A total of 68,775 eligible to vote

The Liberals have heldScarborough-Agincourtfor nearly 30 years.The Conservatives increased their vote share from 34 per cent in 2011, when the party won a majority governmentto 38 per cent in 2015, when the party returned to the opposition benches.

The otherbyelectionsoccurring Monday includeBonavistaBurinTrinity in Newfoundland,BattlefordsLloydminsterin Saskatchewan, andSouth SurreyWhite Rock in B.C.

Elections Canada said there are 68,775 people eligible to voteScarborough-Agincourtour of a population of104,499. Advance polls in the riding were held on December on December 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Chan had urged MPs to 'elevate our debate'

Chan was first elected to the riding in a byelection in 2014. Six months later, he wasdiagnosed with a rare type of head and neck cancer.

He endured six months of radiation and chemotherapy, but learned in March 2016 that his cancer had returned. Chan died on Sept. 14, 2017.

In his last speech in the House of Commons in June, Chan urged MPs to respect the institution of Parliament.

"I would ask all of us to elevate our debate, to elevate our practice," he said.

Chan also urged MPs to "listen to each other," and all Canadians to "give their heart to their democracy; that they treasure it, revere it."

Map of the federal riding of Scarborough-Agincourt. (Elections Canada)