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Gerry Sklavounos again clinched his seat in the National Assembly for the Laurier-Dorion riding, helping to ensure Premier Jean Charest's goal of bringing the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) back into the majority.
"We did it," Sklavounos told supporters crowded into his campaign headquarters on Jean-Talon Street. "I would like to thank the citizens of Laurier-Dorion for sending me back to the National Assembly to represent them."
Election night
Described by Sklavounos as an "emotional roller coaster," the election results in Laurier-Dorion fluctuated throughout the night as numbers rolled in from around the district. With a lead that sometimes dropped into the low double digits, there was a nervous excitement in the air as supporters, on the edge of their seats, watched those results rise and fall.
9:35 +74 votes
9:45 +34 votes
9:53 -62 votes
10:00 +188 votes
10:06 +32 votes
10:08 +13 votes
10:09 +22 votes
10:14 +231 votes
10:17 +181 votes
10:22 +102 votes
10:24 +185 votes
10:27 +256 votes
10:31 +328 votes
10:33 +386 votes
10:39 +112 votes
10:44 +68 votes
10:49 +103 votes
10:53 +180 votes
11:04 +582 votes
11:10 +793 votes
11:15 +863 votes,
Finally, at near midnight, it was clear Sklavounos had won the district with just over 42 per cent of the vote.
More than 22,000 Laurier-Dorion voters braved the cold to cast ballots in an otherwise low-turnout provincial election. Despite less than 60 per cent of Quebec voters hitting the polls, Sklavounos managed to capture 9,389 votes in his riding, putting him nearly 2,000 points over Badiona Bazin of the Parti québécois (PQ).
When the final results flashed on the news screen, PLQ supporters erupted in cheers.
"This is a second mandate for me," Sklavounos said. "I promise to continue to work hard and to build on what we did in the first mandate. I know some people might be disappointed. We wanted a bigger victory. What's important to remember is that we won. Laurier-Dorion is liberal again!"
The road ahead
While the liberals retook the majority and Charest became the first Quebec premier in more than half a century to hold onto a third mandate, Sklavounos emphasized a long road ahead. Citing everything from infrastructure to the economy, he said Quebec's leaders have to continue to work for the betterment of the province.
"There is one way that we will make sure to hold on to Laurier-Dorion," said Sklavounos. "We have to start working tomorrow to continue to do what we have to do — to address the concerns of the people of Laurier-Dorion."
Coming from an ethnically diverse riding, Sklavounos, who thanked his supporters in nearly a dozen languages, touched on immigration issues as well.
"We are going to continue to make sure that the citizens of Laurier-Dorion, who come from everywhere around the world, have an opportunity to integrate, to learn French and to be able to work so they can have the sense that they are full Quebecers — full Canadians," he said. "They can have pride when they go to work, bring home a paycheck for the family and see their children prosper."
One-on-one with Sklavounos
"My primary focus is to make sure that the people of Laurier-Dorion, who come from abroad to make their life here, have access to French language education and have their diplomas and their skills recognized," Sklavounos said in a post-election interview. "We want to make sure that our cultural communities have the resources they need so they can continue to maintain their culture and yet integrate into the Quebec community and feel like full citizens, 100 per cent. And we want their children to have the same opportunities that everybody's children have."
With a higher birth rate than other ridings, Sklavounos said increasing day care in his district is another important step in ensuring people, of all backgrounds, have the time to work and study. But it is also important, he explained, that education and training achieved out of the country is recognized in Quebec.
"I am happy we signed that agreement with France that recognizes education," said Sklavounos. "That is supposed to bring some French doctors over here. They have a surplus of doctors in France. We need them here. We have specialists, but we lack in family doctors and people need family doctors otherwise they end up in emergency rooms and emergency rooms end up backed up. Emergency rooms should be reserved for emergencies. People with sore throats should be able to go to a family doctor."
No one should be under the impression that the coming years will be easy, explained Sklavounos as he discussed the world's current financial struggles.
"There is a recession in the United States and 40 per cent of Quebec's exports go to the United States," he said. "There are some tough times ahead but I do think Mr. Charest's plan to invest in infrastructure is going to help. But we don't believe in magical solutions at the Quebec Liberal Party. Hard work, tax cuts, investments in infrastructure — these are concrete efforts. These are things people can bite into and will improve the quality of life of your average citizen."
Hard work pays off
Born in Montreal to Greek parents, 33-year-old Sklavounos studied at McGill University where he graduated with degrees in civil and common law. After working professionally as an attorney, Sklavounos defeated PQ incumbent Elsie Lefebvre in the 2007 provincial election. He was then appointed the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks.
"Nothing was give to me on a platter," Sklavounos told the crowd. "I don't come from a wealthy family. I don't come from a privileged background. I don't have a famous name to help me win. I have worked hard for everything I have ever gotten. I grew up in a basement apartment in Park Extension and I worked hard, a step at a time, every day to complete my studies and be successful. With the love of my family, hard work and the support of the people, I won my first mandate and now, with the love of my family, with hard work, the support of the people and my volunteers, I have won a second mandate."