Tight provincial race for Calgary-Falconridge upheld following recount
A judicial recount on Tuesday upheld the provincial election result in the Calgary-Falconridge riding, where the UCP’s Devinder Toor won the seat just 96 votes ahead of NDP candidate Parmeet Singh.
The two candidates and their lawyers observed as each ballot in the tight race was recounted in a Calgary courtroom.
Toor captured 6,756 votes in the April 16 provincial election. Singh came a close second, at 6,660 votes. Liberal Party candidate Deepak Sharma was also present for the recount.
Deputy chief electoral officer Drew Westwater said the province received an application from the NDP candidate for a recount, which was granted by the courts.
Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Michele Hollins certified the results of the recount just before 7 p.m. While Elections Alberta won’t release the official results until Friday, following a two-deal appeal period, Hollins said the final tally in the recount was 6,753 votes for Toor, 6,662 for Singh, 849 for Alberta Party candidate Jasbir Dhari and 561 for Sharma.
Westwater said recounts happen periodically when candidates who have lost by a slim margin request another look at the ballots.
Westwater said the vote results will become final once the recount appeal period is over. This is the only recount requested following the April 16 election.