Liberal Kristina Tesser Derksen clinches Milton East–Halton Hills South seat with a 21-vote lead after judicial recount, defeating Conservative Parm Gill.
In a tightly contested race, Liberal candidate Kristina Tesser Derksen has been confirmed the winner of the newly established federal riding of Milton East–Halton Hills South in Ontario.
A judicial recount finalized on May 15, 2025, affirmed her victory over Conservative candidate Parm Gill by a margin of 21 votes.
The initial election results had declared Gill the winner.
However, a subsequent validation process by Elections Canada revealed that Tesser Derksen had actually secured the seat with a 29-vote lead.
Due to the narrow margin, an automatic judicial recount was triggered, which adjusted the final count to a 21-vote advantage in favor of Tesser Derksen.
Tesser Derksen, a lawyer and former Milton Town Councillor, expressed her satisfaction with the outcome.
She emphasized the importance of every vote and thanked her supporters for their dedication throughout the campaign.
Her victory contributes to the Liberal Party’s overall seat count in the House of Commons.
Parm Gill, who previously served as a Member of Parliament and Ontario MPP, had resigned from his provincial cabinet position to run in this federal election.
Despite the initial declaration of his win, the recount process ultimately confirmed his defeat in this closely watched race.
The Milton East–Halton Hills South riding was created during the recent federal electoral redistribution to accommodate population growth in the region.
This election marks the first time the riding has been contested, making Tesser Derksen its inaugural Member of Parliament.
The outcome underscores the significance of every single vote in electoral processes, especially in newly established and closely contested ridings.
