Madawaska-Restigouche elects Liberal Ren Arseneault

Madawaska-Restigouche has elected Liberal Ren Arseneault in Monday night's federal election, sending Conservative cabinet minister Bernard Valcourt to defeat.

Valcourtwas the incumbent heading into Monday's election and most recently served in Stephen Harper's cabinet as the minister of aboriginal affairs.

Arseneault was declared elected with 56.7per cent of the vote with 143of 173 polls reporting in the northwestern riding.

NDPcandidateRosaire L'Italien stood in second place with 25.7per cent support,while Valcourt's support plummeted to 15.8per cent in the early returns.

Green Party candidate FranoisAubin had 1.9per cent support.

Valcourt told reporters on Monday that he was not surprised by the result considering the recent polls.

"After 10years in government, it's not surprising voters would make that choice," he said.

"I can't perform an autopsy of the campaign at this point."

Valcourtwon the riding in 2011. He had previously held the riding from 1984 to 1999, andwould not rule out a political comeback in the future.

"We'll have time to reflect on what the future will bring," he said.

The large riding spans from the province's borders with Quebec and Maineto the northern communities of Campbellton and Dalhousie.