Elmwood recount confirms NDP win

The Progressive Conservatives applied for a recount in Elmwood, which New Democrat Jim Maloway won by a margin of 101 votes. (File Image)

Results of a judicial recount in Elmwood have found a larger margin of victory for the NDP incumbent.

Jim Maloway told CTV News Monday evening that results came in around 8 p.m. He received 2,993 votes, a 107 vote lead over Progressive Conservative candidate Sarah Langevin’s 2,886.

That increased the spread from the April 19 provincial election, when Maloway won by 101 votes, 2,996 compared to Langevin’s 2,895, according to Elections Manitoba results.

Elections Manitoba orders a recount when a candidate wins by fewer than 50 votes.

In this constituency, the PC party applied for a court recount. A party lawyer told CTV the margin was small enough, the party wanted to ensure no mistakes were made, especially with many spoiled or declined ballots around the province.

Maloway said an eight-person team reviewed the ballots in a courtroom Monday, with Chief Electoral Officers present.

Elections Manitoba will now verify the results before it makes them official. The Progressive Conservatives have five days to appeal.

Maloway said he was surprised the PCs went through the trouble of a recount, which is a costly process with several thousand dollars in legal fees. He said the court won’t make the party pay, so taxpayers will have to foot the bill.

A second recount was expected in court Tuesday for a close race in The Maples, but the PC candidate there withdrew his request to challenge the NDP winner.