Just after 10 p.m. Eastern on election night, Global News declared Greg Rickford the victor in the electoral district of Kenora-Rainy River.
The Progressive Conservative candidate had been involved in a two-way race with NDP candidate Glen Archer.
After all polls had reported, Rickford finished with a margin of 2100 votes over Archer.
Rickford's victory broke an NDP stronghold, as the New Democrats had held the riding for about three decades.
The former Conservative MP and cabinet minister under Stephen Harper made a successful return to politics after losing his seat to Liberal Bob Nault in the 2015 federal election.
Lakehead University political scientist Laure Paquette expects that Premier-elect Doug Ford will give serious consideration to appointing Rickford to his cabinet.
"With that kind of experience, he is going to stand out in a not-experienced collection of MPPs, so I would think his chances are pretty good. The question is, which portfolio, and what difference will it make to the north," Paquette said in an interview with Tbnewswatch.
