Recount confirms that David Kilgour won in Edmonton-Beaumont

Remarks by Hon. David Kilgour following the judicial recount

July 07, 2004

Following the judicial recount by Queen's Bench Justice Brian Burrows of all the ballots cast in Edmonton-Beaumont, which found earlier today that David Kilgour won the election for the new constituency by 134 votes (compared to 131 in the validated count on election day), Kilgour issued the following statement:

This has been a waiting period like nothing else in my years as a member of Parliament. Family, friends and the campaign team are all immensely relieved at the outcome of the recount. This election reminds all of us that every single resident is important in our democracy. Let me make some of the points that could not in the circumstances be made on election night:

First, thank you to all the other candidates in Edmonton-Beaumont for a fairly and vigorously-contested campaign. Tim Uppal's supporters conducted themselves with integrity during the recount.

Superb Election Team

Second, the election was won, albeit by as narrow a margin as seems possible to imagine, because of the very hard work by a superb campaign team, led by Kevin Graham and Sofia Yaqub. Virtually nothing was left undone by our volunteers - often at the expense of family time, jobs and income.

All of our volunteers know how hard they were obliged to work at telephoning, putting up signs, door-knocking, driving voters to polling stations, persuading neighbours, friends and family to vote, and all the other things that need to be done well in a very hotly contested campaign. Thank you to each and every one of you for making the difference between victory and defeat.

Third, heartfelt thanks to all those residents who entrusted me with their confidence in this election. That there were 134 more of you than those who voted for my main opponent is very humbling. Many many persons can say that they and their family and friends created the vote margin because in reality they probably did.

Permit me also thank my family, including my children - Margot, Eileen, Dave, Hilary and mother-in-law Marge Scott. No-one in public life could have a better partner and advisor than I do with Laura.

Message from Constituents

Finally, I'd like to say a couple of things about what the constituents told me at literally thousands of their front doors during the 40-day campaign.

1) The five principles of the Canada Health Act are vitally important and most residents want them enforced vigorously without fear:

for-profit hospitals are not acceptable
two systems of medicare one for the rich and another for the rest of us will not be accepted by residents
many constituents want the quality of health care in Mill Woods and Beaumont improved

2) Continue the sponsorships investigation with vigour no-one is above the law. Build safeguards to prevent any future abuse of public funds. And, most important of all, rebuild the trust of Canadians in our system of government.

3) Continue to put constituents and their views and interests first.
Continue to take their concerns to Ottawa and speak up for causes that residents feel are important.

In closing, I am deeply touched that the plurality of residents of this unique new constituency have given me their confidence.

It will be my constant duty and commitment to represent all of you in the new House of Commons. As we head into this summer, I encourage all of you as Canadians to do what you can to help our beloved country in what may be a very challenging period. We must work together to ensure Canada will remain together and flourish.