Updates: Conservatives win Medicine Hat, Liberals snag minority government

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Premier Smith reacts 📌

9 a.m. | Eli J. Ridder

Premier Danielle Smith is calling on newly-elected Prime Minister Mark Carney and his projected Liberal minority government to “reset” a broken relationship between Alberta and the federal government.

READ: Smith calls for Alberta-Ottawa ‘reset’

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Liberals snag minority

2:30 p.m. | Eli J. Ridder

The Liberal Party will form a minority government, several networks and The Canadian Press reported Tuesday.

Counting was paused overnight, delaying the final results as some close ridings were yet to be called.

The Liberals ended up with 169 seats, just three shy of a majority.

Should the Liberals partner with the New Democrats again, they will have enough support to survive confidence votes.

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‘Devastating’

12:30 p.m. | Eli J. Ridder

Former Medicine Hat MP LaVar Payne describes the 2025 federal election as ‘devastating’ in a call with CHAT News.

“This is going to be terrible for Canada and good chances it could be the end of Canada as we know it.”

Payne says he expects support for Alberta separatism to rise.

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Over 19.2M voted

12:15 p.m. | The Canadian Press

Elections Canada says more than 67 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot in the federal election — more than 19.2 million people.

While this election was widely expected to see increased turnout, it did not surpass the record set in March 1958, when 79.4 per cent of eligible electors voted.

But turnout was higher than in the last federal election, when 62.6 per cent of eligible voters headed to the polls.

With votes still being counted, voter turnout still has some room to climb.

The Liberal party is currently leading with 43.6 per cent of the total vote and is set to hold 168 seats, while the Conservative party has 41.4 per cent of the vote and an estimated 144 seats.

The Bloc Québécois took 6.4 per cent of the votes and 23 seats, while the NDP took 6.3 per cent of the vote and currently holds seven seats.

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World congratulates Carney

12 p.m. | The Canadian Press

Reaction is pouring in from across Canada and the globe after Prime Minister Mark Carney led the Liberal party to victory in Monday’s federal election.

Congratulations to @MarkJCarney on your election victory.

We will work together to deepen our economic relationship and deliver security for working people in the UK and Canada. pic.twitter.com/y4eTSesKUe

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 29, 2025

It is the party’s fourth straight election win, although it’s still not clear if the Liberals will have a minority or majority government.

MORE: Notable figures congratulate PM Carney

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NDP candidate grateful

11:30 a.m. | Jayk Sterkenburg

Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner NDP candidate Jocelyn Johnson says she was grateful for the experience she had in the region, despite her party’s failure to secure the 12 electoral district seats necessary to retain its official status.

The NDP received just over 2,500 votes for the Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner region.

Johnson said there’s a privilege in having conversations with people you’ve never met — about their values, stories and what they care about.

“I think people appreciated a couple of things. They appreciated having options on the ballot,” she told CHAT News Monday.

MORE: NDP candidate grateful despite national loss

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Mixed emotions at Liberal camp

11 a.m. | Jayk Sterkenburg

There were mixed emotions at Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner Liberal candidate Tom Rooke’s campaign office Monday night after a federal win, but a regional loss.

MORE: Federal win, regional loss for Liberals

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MONDAY

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Rooke party

9:10 p.m. | Jayk Sterkenburg

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Carney wins own riding

9 p.m. | The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press decision desk is projecting that Prime Minister Mark Carney has been elected in the Ottawa riding of Nepean.

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Bloc leader wins riding

8:40 p.m. | The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press decision desk is projecting that Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet has won his Quebec riding of Beloeil-Chambly.

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Liberal still hopeful

8:35 p.m. | Jayk Sterkenburg

Liberal candidate Tom Rooke says he is still hopeful.

“Personally, I still feel good. Okay, it’s a very heavy, conservative area. We knew that going in, and that isn’t surprising to see some of those results,” Rooke said.

“But there’s still lots of time left in the in the evening, and there could be certain areas of the city or the country that will start changing the picture.”

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Motz wins

8:30 p.m. | Eli Ridder

Conservative Party Glen Motz has won re-election, CTV News reports.

It’s not an entirely unexpected result — and the party here at the Motz campaign office isn’t quite festive.

Motz is peering over his phone, closely watching the results as he finds out how big a Liberal government it will be.

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Liberals win

8:15 p.m. | Eli Ridder

CBC News and CTV News have declared a Liberal win, but the size is unknown.

Mark Carney will continue on as prime minister.

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‘Hopeful,’ says Liberal

8:05 p.m. | Jayk Sterkenburg

A supporter of Medicine Hat’s Liberal candidate Tom Rooke says he is “hopeful.”

We need a strong man to face the SOB south of the border,” said George Exner.

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Motz takes early lead

8 p.m. | Eli Ridder

Conservative candidate Glen Motz takes an early lead with the first polling stations reporting.

MORE: Motz takes a lead

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Polls close in Medicine Hat

7:30 p.m. | Eli Ridder

Polls have officially closed in Medicine Hat.

That’s with the exception of those who lined up before 7:30 p.m.

Conservative candidate Glen Motz says he’s hopeful as Conservatives pick up ground nationally.

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Council committee meeting

7:20 p.m. | Eli Ridder

While most of Medicine Hat will be focused on the federal election, city council is holding a committee-of-the-whole meeting.

Watch that live here.

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Conservative camp optimistic

7:15 p.m. | Eli J. Ridder

Conservative candidate Glen Motz says he’s optimistic after early results in Atlantic Canada.

I’ve arrived at Conservative incumbent @GlenMotz’s campaign office where’ll be for the next few hours of election night. The mood is hopeful, as Conservatives and Liberals go toe to toe in eastern Canada in the popular vote. #canpoli pic.twitter.com/D3KO7yAHxo

— Eli J. Ridder (@EliRidder) April 29, 2025

My colleague Jayk Sterkenburg will be reporting from Liberal candidate Tom Rooke’s headquarters downtown Medicine Hat.

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Elections Canada issues

The Elections Canada website is experiencing an outage.

The part of the website that shows results is still active.

It’s not yet clear when the site will come back online.

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Motz posts supporters

3 p.m. | CHAT News Staff

Conservative candidate Glen Motz posted a video showing his supporters.

Listen to why my community is supporting @CPC_HQ this election.

Vote today, vote for change! pic.twitter.com/NI0Vlv4Yry

— Glen Motz (@GlenMotz) April 28, 2025

“Vote today, vote for change,” he wrote in an X post.

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Smile cookie

2 p.m. | CHAT News Staff

Conservative candidate Glen Motz has made his first post to X on election day.

And it’s not about the election.

Grab yourself a Smile Cookie from Tim Hortons today—either before or after you cast your vote!

100% of proceeds from every Smile Cookie support charity & community groups. pic.twitter.com/lzl9hb0osg

— Glen Motz (@GlenMotz) April 28, 2025

Instead, he’s promoting the Tim Hortons smile cookie campaign.

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Leaders respond to Trump

1 p.m. | Eli J. Ridder

Canada’s federal leaders have responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s election day post.

President Trump, stay out of our election. The only people who will decide the future of Canada are Canadians at the ballot box.

Canada will always be proud, sovereign and independent and we will NEVER be the 51st state.

Today Canadians can vote for change so we can strengthen…

— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) April 28, 2025

“Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power, for free, to the highest level in the World, have your Car, Steel, Aluminum, Lumber, Energy, and all other businesses, QUADRUPLE in size, WITH ZERO TARIFFS OR TAXES, if Canada becomes the cherished 51st. State of the United States of America,” Trump posted on social media.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre told Trump to “stay out of our election” in a post to X.

“The only people who will decide the future of Canada are Canadians at the ballot box.”

This is Canada — and we decide what happens here. pic.twitter.com/1baJGn7pwv

— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) April 28, 2025

Liberal leader Mark Carney did not address Trump by name but posted a video saying “we decide what happens here.”

“Let’s choose to be united and strong.”

While both candidates made numerous campaign visits to Alberta, neither of them made the trip to the Conservative stronghold Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner.

I hear Trump has something to say about our election.

Here’s what I have to say.

He doesn’t choose our future. We do.

With your vote today:

You can protect what makes Canada, Canada.

Every New Democrat you send to Ottawa will stand up for our country.

And never back down.

— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) April 28, 2025

New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh said in a social media post that Trump “doesn’t choose our future.”

“We do.”

MORE: Trump says Canada should become U.S. state

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Medicine Hat votes

12 p.m. | CHAT News Staff

Voting is underway in Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner.

Find out where to vote at ElectionsCanada.ca.

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Tom Rooke votes

11 a.m. | Eli J. Ridder

Liberal candidate Tom Rooke voted at the Veiner Centre this morning.

Rooke was the only Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner candidate to vote on election day in the riding.

Conservative Glen Motz voted in advance, his campaign told CHAT News.

New Democrat Jocelyn Johnson voted in Edmonton, where she lives, and Green candidate Andy Shadrack is in British Columbia.

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Motz’s pitch

10:30 a.m. | Eli J. Ridder

Conservative candidate Glen Motz says his party offers an alternative to the Liberals, who have ruled Canada for just shy of a decade.

“I’m thrilled with the response at the doors. We have a lot of people saying the same thing and they don’t trust the Liberals,” Motz told CHAT News earlier this month.

“They don’t want four more years of the same thing,” he added.

Many Conservative supporters here say they’re motivated to vote Conservative because of what they see as unfair treatment towards Alberta from Ottawa.

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Trump weighs in

10 a.m. | The Canadian Press

U.S. President Donald Trump — who has played an outsized role in the Canadian federal election — weighed in as Canadians head to the polls this morning.

Trump repeated his claim that Canada should become a U.S. state.

“Look how beautiful this land mass would be. Free access with NO BORDER. ALL POSITIVES WITH NO NEGATIVES. IT WAS MEANT TO BE!” Trump’s post said.

All party leaders have condemned Trump’s annexation proposals.

MORE: Trump says Canada should become U.S. state

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Local candidates

9:30 a.m. | CHAT News Staff

Want to learn about the local candidates before you vote?

Visit the CHAT News federal election page for candidate profiles and more coverage.

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Tom Rooke’s pitch

9 a.m. | Eli J. Ridder

Medicine Hat’s Liberal candidate Tom Rooke says if Medicine Hat voters want a voice in the ruling government, they should vote for him.

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Vancouver attack

6 a.m. | CHAT News Staff

The tail end of the federal election campaign was overshadowed by an attack that left several dead in Vancouver.

Police have charged a 30-year-old Vancouver man with eight counts of second-degree murder and say more charges are expected once all the victims have been identified.

Liberal leader Mark Carney attended a vigil Sunday alongside Premier David Eby, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and many other politicians.

MORE: Vancouver attack kills 11

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Riding ‘safe’ Conservative

5:30 a.m. | Eli J. Ridder

It may be a tight race nationally but here in Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner the result is nearly certain, according to the 388Canada polling aggregator.

Conservative Party candidate Glen Motz, who has swept the last three elections here, is on track to win again with an odds of winning at 99 per cent.

Motz, however, says he doesn’t look at polls.

MORE: ‘I’m not a poll watcher,’ Motz says

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Canada votes

5 a.m. | The Canadian Press

After a short, intense and heated election campaign of just 35 days, Canadians go to the polls today to elect a new federal government.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh spent weeks pitching their cases to voters.

Carney, the former central banker and political neophyte, presented himself as a safe pair of hands for a country threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile Poilievre focused on addressing crime and the high cost of living and Singh pushed to protect social programs he argued are under threat.

MORE: Voters go to the polls after 35-day campaign

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Medicine Hat candidates

4:30 a.m. | Eli J. Ridder

Four candidates are running in Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner.

They include: Conservative Glen Motz, Liberal Tom Rooke, New Democrat Jocelyn Johnson and Green candidate Andy Shadrack.

Only Motz and Rooke live in the riding and have regularly campaigned here.

Johnson did visit the riding at least twice — spending time bringing signs to doors — and Shadrack made a tour to get signatures.

Jordan Harris was unable to get enough signatures to run for the People’s Party of Canada.

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How to vote

4 a.m. | CHAT News Staff

Polls close at 7:30 p.m. in Medicine Hat. People who are in line by closing time can still vote.

Everyone is assigned a polling station — and it will be open for 12 hours today. The station’s hours may vary depending on the time zone, according to Elections Canada.

There are two basic requirements to vote today: you must be Canadian and be 18 years old. Find your voting location by using the voter information service online or by calling Elections Canada.

MORE: How to vote in Canada’s federal election today

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More coverage

Find more CHAT News federal election coverage, including local candidate profiles, on the Canada’s Choice 2025 page.

by CHAT News Staff