Cavers happy with third
Green supporters finished off election day with a sweet taste in their mouths on Monday night — not only from the chocolate fountain at their post-election party, but because of the landmark successes the party achieved.
Donovan Cavers, local Green candidate, watched the live feed of election results from The Art We Are store with friends, family and supporters.
Cavers picked up the third spot in the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding with 3,062 votes, beating Liberal candidate Murray Todd, who finished with 3,020.
Conservative incumbent Cathy McLeod returns as MP.
NDP candidate Michael Crawford finished second again.
Nationally, Green Leader Elizabeth May won a seat in the Saanich-Gulf Islands riding.
“Our party focused on getting our first MP, not winning — and now Elizabeth May is in,” Cavers said.
Cheers were heard throughout the coffeehouse as May gave her speech, but Cavers admitted the final results were not what he had hoped for.
“We were hoping for a minority or a coalition government, not a Conservative majority,” Cavers said.
The venue was half-full throughout the night, with high spirits and partying over the Green’s successes.
Many stayed after the results and enjoyed the chocolate fountain provided by Cavers, who is also a chef who owns a catering company.
“They’ve developed more of a platform that isn’t just focused on the environment,” said Madelaine McDougall, a Green supporter and friend of Cavers.
McDougall said she usually votes for the NDP, but chose to support her friend in this election.
Cavers explained the difference between this election and the one in 2008, in which he also ran, by saying this time: “I had a lot more help and there were more local initiatives that promoted me, like the transit fares going up.”
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