Conservative Marty Morantz hangs on to narrow advantage in last Manitoba riding to be decided

The Conservative party has a narrow lead over the Liberals in the only Manitoba riding that has yet to be decided in this week's federal election.

As of Wednesday evening, Conservative incumbent Marty Morantz ledLiberal challenger Doug Eyolfson by 24votes in Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley, according to Elections Canada data provided to CBC.

If the margin stands, it would trigger an automatic judicialrecount, which are conducted in races where the winning marginis less than one one-thousandth of the total votes cast in the riding, according to Elections Canada.

CBC News is not calling the race because Elections Canada hasnot completed its final checks of special ballots. They were listed as 95 per cent complete on Wednesday night.

Morantz, a former Winnipeg city councillor, had 17,336 votes as of Wednesday. Eyolfson, a doctor,had 17,312.

Morantz, who won the riding away from Eyolfson in 2019, said he does not know why the rematch between the two candidates was so close.

"They'll be lots of time to reflect on the results. There were a number of candidates, a number of different parties and I think I'll leave the analysis to others," he said at his campaign office on Portage Avenue.

Eyolfson saidin a statement he anticipates a recount will happen in the coming days.

Morantz said the main thing he heard from constituents while out door-knocking on the campaign trail was questions over why the election was called in the first place.

"This was a completely unnecessary and unwarranted election," he said."It was really only because Mr. Trudeau wanted to get his majority, and Canadian citizens in their wisdom chose not to give him one."

None of Manitoba's 13 other ridings changed hands in this election, held on Monday.

Morantz said he was happy to still be aheadin Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-HeadingleyWednesday night.

He thanked his team and his family.

"It's been a difficult process it took a little longer to get the result we were hoping for, but we got it, and I just want to thank all of our supporters," he said.

Morantz said he is looking forward to getting some sleep on Thursday.