Harper cabinet ministers, NDP critics: Who lost their seat?

Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq speaks during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

As the Liberals vastly increase their seat count, a number of Conservative cabinet ministers and NDP shadow ministers are expected to lose their ridings.

Here are the high-profile Conservatives and New Democrats so far projected to lose by the CTV Decision Desk.

Harper Cabinet

Joe Oliver, Eglinton-Lawrence

Finance Minister Joe Oliver was among a handful of Toronto Conservatives who broke through in 2011, but as Canada’s biggest city returns mostly to the Liberals, Oliver has been defeated by Marco Mendicino. Oliver took over the high-profile portfolio from Jim Flaherty, who died in 2014. Before finance, Oliver was Minister of Natural Resources, and spent much his time defending proposed pipelines, like Keystone XL, which has since stalled. Oliver stayed mostly out of the spotlight during the campaign, and cancelled a speech at a men’s club in August after critics suggested it was sexist.

Julian Fantino, Vaughan-Woodbridge

The former top cop in Toronto and at the Ontario Provincial Police snagged this suburban Toronto riding from the Liberals in a very close race during a 2010 by-election, and easily beat the Liberals in 2011, but has now been defeated by Liberal Francesco Sorbara. Fantino climbed the ranks quickly in Harper’s cabinet and was made Minister of Veterans Affairs in 2013, but didn’t last long in the top job. Fantino’s efforts to defend service centre closures, pension changes and a billion dollars of lapsed spending caused ire among veterans and he was demoted to associate minister earlier this year. Since then, he has been a vocal proponent for Tory tough-on-crime measures.

Chris Alexander, Ajax—Pickering

The outgoing Citizenship and Immigration Minister has lost his race in this new suburban Toronto riding to Liberal Mark Holland, who served as an MP from 2004 to 2011. A former diplomat, Alexander oversaw the controversial Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, which gave the minister powers to revoke Canadian citizenship from those dual-citizens convicted of treason, espionage or terrorism. Alexander was frequently asked by the media in recent years why progress on approval of Syrian refugees was going so slowly, and the questions intensified after it was revealed that family members of Alan Kurdi, a boy whose body famously washed up on a Turkish beach, had tried unsuccessfully to get to Canada.

Bernard Valcourt, Madawaska—Restigouche

The man who has served as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development since 2013 has lost his New Brunswick seat to Liberal lawyer René Arseneault. Valcourt was first elected in 1984 and made a Minister of State by Brian Mulroney in 1986. He was demoted after a drunk driving accident in 1989 that cost him an eye. After a stint as New Brunswick’s Progressive Conservative leader, he was elected federally in 2011. Valcourt oversaw the Aboriginal portfolio during a time of heightened tensions. He was criticized this summer for turning down an invitation to attend the Assembly of First Nations general assembly.

Paul Calandra, Markham—Stouffville

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister has lost in this new suburban Toronto riding to Liberal Dr. Jane Philpott. Calandra often raised eyebrows for responses he gave in question period. After an NDP question about Nigel Wright, he said, "I do like flowers and, of course, with lemons I like to make lemonade. My two daughters, this summer, actually had a lemonade stand where they sold lemonade for five cents on the street. They did very well. I am very proud of them.” Another time, when NDP Leader Tom Mulcair asked about the mission in Iraq, Calandra instead spoke at length about a two-month-old Facebook comment by an unnamed NDP fundraiser who had criticized Israel. Calandra later offered a tearful apology for the answer. He was narrowly elected in 2008 to the riding of Oak Ridges—Markham and easily won re-election in 2011.

Leona Aglukkaq, Nunavut

Canada’s first-ever Inuk minister appears to have lost her race for Nunavut to Liberal Hunter Tootoo, who previously served as the speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. Aglukkaq was given the health portfolio in 2008 and became Minister of the Environment after she easily won re-election in 2011. One of her last moves as minister was ordering a temporary halt to a planned sewage dump into the St. Lawrence River until after the election. Aglukkaq has faced repeated criticism for her government’s position on climate change. Critics pointed out that it wasn’t even mentioned in the last federal budget, to which Aglukkaq fired back that “no federal budget has done more for the environment.” Aglukkak also faced controversy for Tweeting her support of the seal hunt and polar bear hunting.

Gail Shea, Egmont

CTV projects the Liberals have taken all four ridings on Prince Edward Island, including Gail Shea’s, where Bobby Morrissey will be the next MP. Shea was first elected in 2008 and twice served as Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

NDP shadow cabinet

Megan Leslie, Halifax

The NDP’s environment critic appears to be a victim of the Liberal tide in Atlantic Canada. Leslie pushed hard against the government to ban plastic microbeads, which they have now promised to phase out. She was also a loud voice demanding more action on climate change and an inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women. Leslie first won the Halifax riding in 2008 after it was vacated by former NDP Leader Alexa McDonough.

Peter Stoffer, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook

After winning six times -- the first time in 1997 by a mere 41 votes – the union activist turned Nova Scotia MP has fallen to Liberal Darrell Samson. Stoffer served in many shadow cabinet roles, most recently as Veterans Affairs critic.

Peggy Nash, Parkdale--High Park

This Toronto riding has swung back to the Liberals under Arif Virani. Before she was first elected in 2006, Nash was a senior Canadian Auto Workers negotiator. She was also known for her work on food insecurity, affordable housing and assisting U.S. Iraq War Resisters. She served in the NDP shadow cabinet as industry critic.

Pat Martin

Winnipeg Centre

After increasing his share of the vote in each election since 1997, Martin has this time been ousted by Robert Falcon Ouellette, a Winnipeg mayoral race runner-up and member of the Red Pheasant First Nation. Martin was well-known for his salty language inside and outside of the House of Commons.

Paul Dewar, Ottawa Centre

After serving his riding since 2006, the NDP Critic for Foreign Affairs has been defeated by Liberal lawyer Catherine McKenna.