Recount confirms N.B. riding Liberal win

A New Brunswick judge has confirmed a narrow Liberal win in a recount for a Saint John riding, but further legal challenges are still possible.

The judicial recount means the results of the Sept. 24 provincial election remain virtually deadlocked at 22 seats for the Progressive Conservatives, and 21 for the Liberals.

A spokesman for the chief electoral officer said the Saint John Harbour recount concluded Thursday the Liberals still hold a 10-vote margin of victory.

Judge Hugh McLellan oversaw the count in a Court of Queen’s Bench courtroom that took the rare step of allowing television cameras in to record the process.

“We’ve come to the conclusion through this exercise that the votes counted for each of the candidates in Saint John Harbour on election night are in fact exactly right,” said the judge.

Progressive Conservative candidate Barry Ogden remained in second place, while Liberal candidate Gerry Lowe retained the narrow victory. The two men shook hands after the recount was complete on Thursday morning.

However a lawyer for the Progressive Conservative candidate had alleged in a notice of application filed on Monday — later withdrawn to await the results of the recount — that about 40 voters cast their ballots twice in the district.