Portage-Lisgar remains a Conservative seat, but Monday's by-election results did not deter People's Party of Canada (PPC) candidate, and leader, Max Bernier from looking ahead to the next opportunity to run in the riding. Election Canada's unofficial results show Conservative Party of Canada candidate Branden Leslie was elected, with approximately 64% of the popular vote.

"I will be your PPC candidate in Portage-Lisgar at the next general election," stated Bernier to his supporters in remarks broadcast online via his social media page. In those remarks, he admitted the result of Monday's election was not what he would have preferred, noting Portage-Lisgar has been a Conservative stronghold for years, and it's not an easy task to reverse that.

"We reached out to thousands of people, and built a larger support base in this riding," he noted. "We gained hundreds of new members. We recruited and trained many new volunteers. Our ideas are better known and better understood. When the general election comes, we will be better prepared than ever before, because I can tell you already, we are not going anywhere, and I'm not going anywhere. I will be with you to do that fight in 2025." 

Bernier stressed the importance of his party, and supporters, speaking what they believe passionately and with conviction.

"We have two more years, until the next general election, to convince the people of Portage-Lisgar, and Canadians across the country, that the PPC is best represent them," he said. "We will keep promoting our principles and policies, and convincing more people until we get PPC MP's in the House of Commons."

He added it takes time to convince Canadians a drastic change of course is needed to reverse years of bad Liberal policies and weak Conservative opposition. 

"We are here for the long run and we believe we will win, just we don't know when," he said. "If more and more Canadians are able to listen to our message, we will be able to win that battle of ideas and win that common sense revolution. We are fighting for the fate of our country, and we will fight, as long as it takes. We cannot lose our hope and our nerves. Our work does not end after voting day. Step-by-step we are growing."