Bay of Quinte MP-Elect Chris Malette led the cheers when CBC projected Mark Carney would remain as Canada’s Prime Minister. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)
The result was well worth the wait Monday night.
Around 1 a.m., CTV called the Bay of Quinte race, setting off rounds of cheers inside the Sans-Souci restaurant on Belleville’s Front Street. It was almost dawn before the CBC finally called the riding for former journalist and City of Belleville Councillor Chris Malette.
It was a resounding win in an election described as the most important in our lifetimes.
With 222 of 223 polls reporting, Mr. Malette had secured 32,328 votes and 50.4 percent the vote. The MP-elect’s mark is the highest vote total ever secured by a candidate in the Bay of Quinte since it was redrawn as a federal electoral district in 2015.
A majority of voters in the Bay of Quinte chose the former Belleville Intelligencer editor over incumbent Ryan Williams, who finished the night trailing Mr. Malette by 3,702 votes. Still, the Conservative candidate outdid his 2021 performance of 25,479 by more than 3,100 votes.
But in 2025, turnout in the Bay of Quinte was up by over 2,000 voters. An estimated 69.5 per cent of eligible voters marked a ballot for their candidate of choice, up from 64 per cent in 2021.
The local vote slightly outdid the national turnout of 68.5 per cent.
Locally, the NDP and Green candidates saw their voter share diminish greatly, a trend that mirrored national results. NDP candidate Kate Crothers managed 2,343 votes, a near 7,000 drop off from 2021.
Erica Charlton posted just 818 votes, just half her vote total representing the Greens in back-to-back federal elections.
The Bay of Quinte race was a two candidate sprint between Mr. Malette and Mr. Williams.
As a relieved Mr. Malette was cruising to victory, he and reporters from the Quinte area huddled just after the stroke of midnight to discuss the campaign. Having covered elections as a journalist in the past, Mr. Malette now knows how hard a campaign is from the other side.
He said a large number of voters that typically vote for other parties admitted they were supporting Prime Minister Mark Carney instead of other party leaders.
“That was the voter’s narrative. We were hearing at the door: ‘We’re scared to death about what’s going to happen with U.S. President Trump’,” Mr. Malette said.
The MP-elect hopes the election results reduce the temperature of politics in Canada. While journalists spoke with campaign chair Bruce Knudsen on the Front Street sidewalk, this reporter and others had eggs thrown at them by a person in a passing vehicle. Throughout the evening, a white SUV trolled the front of the restaurant with flags bearing Conservative slogans.
Mr. Malette recalled that when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Belleville in July 2023, he was met with a mob so angry and ginned-up the PM cut his visit short.
The fiasco left a black mark on the Friendly City’s name. And while the protestors were not encouraged by leaders on the right, they weren’t decried, either.
The incoming MP calls such actions, now routine south of the border, “punk politics.” “People are sick and tired of name calling, sick of three-word slogans,” Mr. Malette said.
“Mr. Poilievre is going to lose his seat in Carleton, and hopefully tonight’s result is a stronger lesson that Canadians rebuke that type of politics. It’s not Canada. It might resonate in the Conservative echo chamber but it doesn’t at the door. It doesn’t resemble the good Progressive Conservative governments of the past.”
In his concession remarks, outgoing MP Ryan Williams said he was disappointed in Tuesday’s result but remained proud of his team’s effort.
“We fought hard. It was a good battle. I can tell you, there’s enough people in this region that want change. They are hurting, they want to see a difference, and we’ll continue to make sure we stand by them and for them and to make sure they’re not forgotten,” he said.
Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson congratulated the MP-elect Malette — and raised highway 49 first thing in the morning.
“I look forward to meeting with Mr. Malette in the near future and discussing with him the ways the federal government under the leadership of Mark Carney can ensure the long-term prosperity of Canadians,” Mayor Ferguson said in a statement.
“Like municipalities across Canada, the County of Prince Edward faces a great deal of uncertainty. We want to work together with all levels of government to ensure investments in priorities such as infrastructure, housing, and workforce development build capacity at the local level.
“I will be urgently pressing Mr. Malette and the federal government to join the provincial government and the municipality in supporting the rehabilitation of County Road 49. This project is essential for the continued economic growth, safety, and well-being of our community.”
Syrian immigrants Adnan and Suhaila Mustafa reflected on their first voting experience as new Canadian citizens.
In a social media post they reinforced why Canadians should deeply appreciate free and fair elections and our democratic process.
The driving force behind Papa Ghanoush and Mama Hummus food products said walking into the poll station they felt safe, proud and strong.
“Today we knew our votes were private. We didn’t have that in Syria. In Syria you handed over your paper, it’s looked at and then put in the box. If we voted for the ‘wrong’ person you would be arrested. Many people like us didn’t vote.”
“Today is the first time we voted for our country.”
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