Liberal candidate in Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo Terry Lake was busy on Tuesday taking down his election signs (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

FEDERAL ELECTION 2019

Lake reflects on first election loss in two decades; Greens, NDP try to move forward after distant finishes

Oct 22, 2019 | 3:42 PM

KAMLOOPS — A night after suffering his first election loss since 1999, Terry Lake was back to work.

Lake was busy taking down signs after a disappointing end to a promising campaign.

“I can tell you, it’s a lot more fun taking signs down when you win,” noted Lake. “But the sun came up today and we live in a great country. I’m happy that we continue to have a Liberal government, keeping us moving. I’m obviously disappointed I’m not part of that team to represent Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo.”

Lake came in with a high-profile resume as the former mayor of Kamloops and B.C. cabinet minister. However, he lost by a wide margin — by more than 12,000 votes to Cathy McLeod — a result that shocked him a little.

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“Yeah. I mean, I really was. I didn’t see this coming,” he said. “I knew there was some anti-Trudeau, anti-Liberal sentiment, but I didn’t get the feeling that it was going to be anything but very close.”

Green candidate Iain Currie wasn’t close in the race, finishing fourth. Currie was busy taking down his signs on Tuesday, but a day after the election he is proud of the campaign.

“I would’ve preferred to get more votes, but I’m incredibly proud of the campaign that our volunteers ran,” said Currie. “Incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished.”

His mood on Tuesday — zen he called it — was in stark contrast to election night when Currie saw the writing on the wall early.

“Having slept on it, I feel less wounded by the loss and more, looking back, incredibly happy that I did this,” he said.

The NDP’s Cynthia Egli had no regrets either, just wishing she had more time on the campaign trail. Egli joined the race four weeks before election night and finished a distant third to Lake and McLeod with only 13 per cent of the riding’s vote. But she indicated on Monday night this may not be the last time she runs.

“I learned that I really love talking to people,” she said. “I learned that, while I did this as a favour to the NDP to put the name on the ballot, I really enjoyed it. I feel I did a decent job and I think it might be something I might want to do again.”

For Lake, he’s going to take some time off and figure out what he wants to do with Quebec-based cannabis company Hexo. Lake, however, did not completely rule out another run at politics.