So What Happened in Those Close Ridings?

The NDP’s Paul Ferreira won a tight by-election in York South-Weston but its impossible to predict whether he will be able to hold it. In the 2003 election, the Liberals received over 60% of the vote. Liberal Laura Albanese retakes riding.

Tim Peterson crossed the floor to join the PCs but in 2003 he won Mississauga South by just over 200 votes. It's going to be close again. Liberal Charles Sousa defeats Peterson.

Will new Liberal candidate Yasir Naqvi keep Ottawa Centre in the Liberal column? Yasir Naqvi retains riding for Liberals.

Hamilton East-Stoney Creek is a new riding which included about half of the former Hamilton East riding and half of the former Stoney Creek riding. Both riding were Liberal in 2003 but the NDP’s Paul Miller is making it too close to call and there is no Liberal incumbent. NDP Paul Miller wins.

Maria Bountroginanni decided not to run for re-election in Hamilton Mountain which has opened up the riding and it is impossible to predict if new candidate Sophia Aggelonitis can hold it for the Liberals. Liberal Sophia Aggelonitis prevails.

Back in 2003 Liberal Kim Craitor beat PC Bart Maves in Niagara Falls by 3,000 votes. This time its too close to call. Liberal Kim Craitor wins again.

Impossible to say whether first-time Liberal incumbent Liz Sandals can hold Guelph. Liberal Liz Sandals also wins again.

Liberal Carol Mitchell may not be able fend off the challenge from the PCs in Huron-Bruce which has traditionally been Conservative country. Liberal Carol Mitchell holds onto seat.

Same thing for Liberal John Milloy in Kitchener Centre which is in an island in a sea of Conservative blue. Liberal John Milroy prevails again.

Back in 2003 the Liberal, Conservative and NDP candidates all received over 30% of the votes in London-Fanshawe. It looks to be another competitive 3-way battle again. Liberal Khalil Ramal is returned.

Ajax-Pickering is another riding with no incumbents. When Jim Flaherty resigned to run federally his wife Christine Elliott won the by-election in 2006. With new riding boundaries, Elliott is running in Whitby-Oshawa. Liberal Joe Dickson takes the riding.

The same situation exists in Oak-Ridges-Markham because PC Frank Klees has moved to Newmarket-Aurora. Liberal Helena Jaczek wins seat in Tory country.

Will PC challenger Peter Shurman take Thornhill from a weak Liberal, Mario Racco? Conservative Peter Shurman defeats incumbent Racco.

Can Liberal Vic Dhillon hold Brampton West which contains most of Tony Clement's old riding? Liberal Vic Dhillon holds onto riding.

Will Toronto councilor and PC challenger David Shiner take Willowdale back from the Liberals?
Liberal David Zimmer is returned.

In an election where the government is returned with a solid majority, it's not surprising to see so many close races won by Liberals. The only exceptions are Thornhill with a large Jewish population and Hamilton East-Stoney Creek where there is always strong NDP support.