7th heaven for Scott Reid

Conservative Scott Reid made it seven straight Monday night.

In Monday’s federal election, Reid easily won his riding of Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston (which stretches from Kingston to near Ottawa, with a population of 101,630 and 79,461 registered voters). Reid was up against Kayley Kennedy (Liberal), Stephen Kotze (Green Party), Satinka Schilling (NDP) and Matthew Barton (People’s Party of Canada). Reid was first elected in 2000 as a member of the Canadian Alliance and has since held it for the Conservatives.

Speaking about his rural riding, Reid said: “It feels like a really big happy, comfortable marriage - I really, really love this place.”

Nearly two years ago, after holding a referendum in his riding in which a majority of respondents suggested he should, Reid was the only Conservative to vote in favour of cannabis legalization.

From the family behind retail business Giant Tiger, Reid is vice-chairman of the board. On Parliament Hill, he’s never been appointed to cabinet, but has been involved in committee work on House of Commons procedure, electoral reform and international human rights.

Leading into the election, Reid told this newspaper he had multiple local priorities, including advocating to get defibrillators into public facilities.

“I’m feeling a combination of happy at the local level, but disappointed with the national result,” said Reid as the local polls were going overwhelmingly in his favour. “It’s very strange - I’ve suddenly become one of the veterans, you know, like Napoleon’s old guard. (The first win) felt different than the rest, but numbers two, three, four, five, six and seven have felt good, too.”