It’s been more than a decade since Michael Chong won his first election in Wellington-Halton Hills.
Heading into Monday’s general election, 2004 was the only time Chong won the riding with less than 50 per cent support.
When the CTV News election desk called the riding for Chong, his total stood at 49.7 per cent – compared to 37 per cent for his closest challenger, Liberal candidate Don Trant.
Chong's share of the vote rose as the night went on, topping 51 per cent by the time 236 of 253 polls were reporting.
Finishing further behind were Anne Gajerski-Cauley of the NDP, Brent Allan Boutellier of the Green Party, and Canadian Action Party candidate Harvey Edward Anstey.
Following the Conservative Party’s election in 2006, Chong spent time in cabinet as the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
He resigned that position in November of that year, citing a lack of support for the government’s plan to recognize the Quebecois as a nation.
Chong returned to national prominence in recent years as the driving force behind the Reform Act, which aimed to take some political power away from party leaders and put it in the hands of MPs.
