Tesser Derksen Wins after Validation Result in Milton-East-Halton Hills-South

By Laura Steiner, Local Journalism Initiative, The Milton Reporter

Liberal Party of Canada candidate Kristina Tesser Derksen is the Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Milton East-Halton Hills-South. The two-term municipal councillor won the riding by 29 votes after an error was found by the riding’s Returning Officer during the validation process.

It was the first federal election for the new riding, created following a mandated boundary review process that takes place every ten years. It was formerly known as Milton riding, but divided due to population growth in both Milton, and South Halton Hills (Georgetown). Preliminary results placed Conservative candidate Parm Gill ahead by 298 votes, with 32,186 to Liberal Tesser Derksen’s 31,888 following a campaign marked by controversy.  Tesser Derksen filed a police complaint over vandalism of her signs in Georgetown, and Milton. There was also a complaint filed with Elections Canada over the use of an auditorium at the Milton Seniors’ Activity Center while advance voting took place over the Easter weekend for an event while voting took place elsewhere. Sources place Gill on stage making remarks on the election.

Counting began after polls closed at 9:30 p.m. local time on April 28, 2025. Elections Canada paused counting in twelve ridings including Milton-East Halton Hills South overnight.  In this riding, a single advanced poll of approximately 2800 ballots special ballots remained to be counted. Special ballots are those votes cast by mail, or at Elections Canada offices across located in every riding. The count resumed Tuesday morning. Gill was announced as the victor based on preliminary results Tuesday afternoon.

Those preliminary results underwent a validation process where the riding’s Returning Officer (RO) compares results entered into Elections Canada systems, with the reports received recorded on paper as part of the ‘Statement of the Vote.’ During this process, the RO noticed a mistake, which ended up awarding riding to Tesser Derksen by 29 votes. “I am so honoured to be your MP-election for Milton East-Halton Hills South,” she posted in a statement to social media. The results will be verified in a judicial recount scheduled to begin May 12 2025.

Adam van Koeverden Wins Burlington-North Milton-West.

Adam van Koeverden won his seat in the neighbouring riding Burlington-North-Milton West by 5,983 votes over Conservative candidate Nadeem Akbar. “To my constituents in Burlington North-Milton West, I can’t thank you enough for putting your confidence and faith in Mark Carney’s leaderdship, and my local work and advocacy. You can count on me,” he posted to social media. His riding had a turnout of approximately 74%, while Milton East-Halton Hills-South has a turnout of 73.5%. The turnout numbers do not include voters registered on Election Day.

The Liberals were re-elected to a minority mandate with 165 seats- three short of a majority government at 172, with Mark Carney winning his seat in Nepean. The Conservative Party of Canada forms the official opposition with 144 seats. The NDP (New Democratic Party) is third with seven seats; five short of official party status. Voters re-elected Elizabeth May as the only Green Party MP. Both NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre have lost their seats in Parliament.