Lethbridge-East NDP candidate Rob Miyashiro (left) with Shannon Phillips, the projected winner for the riding of Lethbridge-West, during the NDP's election night event at The Owl Acoustic Lounge in Lethbridge on May 29, 2023. (Photo: LNN)

By Christian Oldale / Justin Goulet

Shannon Phillips projected winner in Lethbridge-West

May 30, 2023 | 1:28 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Shannon Phillips is projected to resume her duties as MLA for Lethbridge-West.

The Canadian Press has called the victory for Phillips in the 2023 provincial election, meaning she is anticipated to serve her third term as MLA since first being elected in 2015. However, despite Phillips’ victory in Lethbridge-West, it is projected that Alberta will have a UCP majority government.

Phillips said that even though it is not the provincial result she was hoping for, she is positive about the support her party received.

She explained, “There’s no question that this is not the result we hoped for, and there is no question that a number of New Democrats and candidates who worked very, very hard are quite disappointed tonight.”

Phillips added, “But as we just heard our leader Rachel Notley say, this is the largest official opposition in some time, if not ever, and there is no question that we are united behind our leader Rachel Notley to ensure that no decision around public health care, our pensions or any of the other proposals by Danielle Smith that she hid during this campaign go unchallenged by a strong, effective and experienced opposition who knows exactly what our values are.”

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Phillips said the amount of interaction and support seen on both sides of the election has been quite a sight, and was pleased to see the party grow despite the provincial loss.

CHERYL SEABORN

The projected runner-up to Phillips in Lethbridge-West, the UCP’s Cheryl Seaborn, said she is disappointed by her finish, but she learned a lot during the campaign and is holding her head high.

Seaborn stated, “When I did this, I wanted no regrets, and I can honestly say, we have no regrets. Our team worked so hard. We wanted a positive message out there and we kept our word on that. We were positive the entire time and I’m so grateful for that.”

She thanked all citizens who voted for her and advised her supporters to “carry on”.

Seaborn said, “Let your voice be heard [and] don’t be discouraged. You have every right in a democracy to feel that you are represented by whomever represents you and, in this case, it’s Ms. Phillips, and please make sure that you do all that you can to make sure that your voice is heard over the next four years.”

Cheryl Seaborn at the UCP election night event in Lethbridge, May 29, 2023. (Photo: LNN)

Seaborn noted that over the course of the campaign, “I learned that there’s hope for the future. I learned that there are great people with great vision of what they want Alberta to look like.”

She added that she is thrilled about the projected UCP majority government for Alberta.

READ MORE: UCP projected to form majority government in Alberta

The official results from the 2023 provincial election will be released on Thursday, June 8, 2023.

Full election coverage: AB Votes 2023

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