A Conservative MP who won his seat by just 12 votes said he's eager for a federal election rematch, ideally within 18 months, reports Blacklock’s Reporter.Jonathan Rowe, whose razor-thin victory in Terra Nova-The Peninsulas was certified by a Superior Court judge, told his new Conservative caucus colleagues he's looking ahead to the next campaign."We are very looking forward to bringing these policies with our next Prime Minister, Pierre Poilievre, in the next election, hopefully in 2026," said Rowe.The civil engineer defeated Liberal candidate Anthony Germain, a former CBC Radio reporter, in the redistricted riding previously held by retired Liberal MP Churence Rogers. Rowe's victory marked what he called the party's "best showing in Newfoundland and Labrador for the Conservative Party in over 20 years.""Forty-eight hours ago I was still wondering where I was going to be today," Rowe told caucus. "It's very exciting.".His arrival was met with enthusiasm from Conservative MPs, who gave him three standing ovations. Caucus chair Scott Reid quipped, "You will be pleased to know that for the rest of your career that's the same reaction you will get every time you enter a roomful of Conservatives."Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre praised Rowe's efficient campaign strategy during the caucus meeting."A 12-vote victory," Poilievre said. "He won one of the most efficient election victories ever. Some of you guys win by 20,000 votes, very inefficient. Jonathan did it with 12. He wanted to keep us in suspense before bringing the news."Poilievre positioned his party as ready to govern, telling caucus members they are "a government in waiting."."When we expose Liberal failures, when we argue about policies, we don't do it just to hold the government to account. We do it because we want things to get better," said Poilievre."The strivers, the battlers, the fighters, the ones who scrape by and fight on, the ones who get knocked down but get back up and never quit and keep pushing forward, they won't give up and neither should we," said Poilievre. "We are their champions. Their worries are our concerns. Their cause is our purpose. They are counting on us. They believe in us. They put their hope in us and we will fulfill that hope for our people."Rowe's victory leaves the Liberals with 169 seats in the minority Commons, four short of a working majority with the election of a Speaker. Another Liberal seat won by a single vote in Terrebonne is under judicial review in Quebec Superior Court for alleged "irregularities." The Bloc Quebecois currently has 22 seats, the New Democrats 7, and the Green Party a single member.
