Dufferin–Caledon re-elects Conservative Seeback with record voter turnout

By Sam Odrowski

Residents of the region turned out in record numbers on April 28 to cast a vote in Canada's 45th federal election.

Incumbent Dufferin–Caledon MP Kyle Seeback was re-elected with 41,836 votes or 58.8 per cent of ballots cast, followed by Liberal candidate Malalai Halimi with 24,151 votes or 33.9 per cent, and NDP candidate Viktor Karklins with 1,815 votes or 2.6 per cent.

Voter turnout reached a record of 71.71 per cent or 71,169 of 99,251 registered electors in Dufferin–Caledon – the highest number reported since the riding was created in 2004. This is a slightly higher percentage than the national turnout of 68 per cent, which didn't break the record of 79.4 per cent in 1958. 

Canadians elected a minority Liberal government, led by Mark Carney, with 169 of the 172 seats needed to form a majority, while the Conservative Party has 144 and the NDP has seven. 

Seeback celebrated his win with campaign supporters, staff and volunteers on election night at Mount Alverno Luxury Resorts in Caledon.

After Seeback received word he secured the Dufferin–Caledon seat with roughly 60 per cent of the vote, he delivered a speech thanking campaign supporters. 

“The residents of Dufferin–Caledon have given me a resounding mandate to represent them in Ottawa, and I couldn't be happier. I love this riding. I love the people,” Seeback told the Citizen. 

“I can't wait to represent them for the next two, three, four years – however long this parliament lasts.”

Seeback expressed doubts about the Liberal Party's ability to effectively govern without a majority. 

“Look, this is going to be a very weak Liberal government, from what it looks like right now. They cannot have the incompetent NDP propping them up like what happened last time,” he said in his speech addressing supporters. 

“When we get back to Parliament, these corrupt, arrogant Liberals are going to have a hell of a time from us. We're going to eat Mark Carney's lunch over the next – I don't know how long – 12 months, 13 months, 15 months, and then we are going to bring his government down.”

Seeback lauded his campaign manager and team for helping him increase the percentage of votes he received to nearly 60 per cent. This marks a significant increase compared to the 49 per cent he got in 2021.

“I think we ran a very good campaign. We talked about the issues that mattered to Canadians, which is affordability, crime, the housing crisis,” Seeback said. “All the Liberals wanted to talk about was Donald Trump and how they can allegedly stand up to him and presented no plan for Canadians.”

He added, “We've got to get down the cost of living, we've got to implement our plan to build houses, and we've got to implement our plan to grow the Canadian economy to be able to be able to stand up to Donald Trump. We need to diversify our economy away from the United States, create interprovincial trade, pipelines, mines and natural resources.”

Liberal Dufferin–Caledon candidate Malalai Halimi congratulated her party, Mark Carney, and Seeback in a statement to the Citizen.

“Congratulations, Canada! You've elected a strong Liberal government to stand up to some of the biggest challenges of our lifetimes. And my congratulations to Prime Minister Mark Carney who will help lead us through to the future,” she said. “Today, I stand honoured to have been your Liberal candidate for Dufferin-Caledon. While the results are not what we wanted, I am incredibly proud of the campaign we've run and the community we've built. I want to congratulate Mr. Seeback on his re-election. While your voice will not be within the government but in opposition, the residents of Dufferin-Caledon have made their decision, and I wish you all the best in serving our community.”

Halimi added, “I am incredibly optimistic about what Canada's future holds. Yes, we have some serious challenges ahead of us, but I know that when our country is united, there is nothing we can't achieve together.”

Viktor Karklins, who represented the NDP in Dufferin–Caledon's federal election, shared his appreciation for the opportunity to campaign locally.

“I'm thrilled and honoured to have been a part of this election, I truly learned so much and got to know so many wonderful people. I'm thankful for the experience and to have been able to speak up for causes I care so deeply about,” said Karklins.

People's Party of Canada (PPC) candidate for Dufferin–Caledon, Dympna Carolan, received 2.3 per cent of the vote. She shared her thoughts on her party's campaign and the election's results. 

“My experience running for the People's Party in the federal election was very positive. Nationally the PPC did not do as well as we did last election, I believe this election many people voted out of fear instead of voting their conscience. Canadians voted for unscientific net zero policies, for more mass immigration, more government spending and higher taxes,” said Carolan. “I had a very small team, and we did exceptionally well for the PPC – doubling the national average in percentage of votes. That has everything to do with the courageous PPC'ers in Dufferin Caledon.”

Dufferin–Caledon Green Party candidate Fatima Baig, who received two per cent of the vote, told the Citizen she's grateful for the opportunity to promote her party's message and make connections on the campaign trail.

“This campaign has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life so far. As a young candidate, stepping forward to represent my community was both humbling and empowering,” Baig noted. “Sharing our hopes, standing up for our future, and fighting for change alongside so many passionate people has been a true honour. I'm so proud of what we built together — a campaign rooted in heart, in courage, and in the belief that change is always possible.”

She added, “Nationally, the Green Party reminded Canadians that hope still has a place in politics. We spoke up for the planet, for fairness, and for future generations, and even in moments of challenge, we stayed true to our values.”