Rewrite - The candidates from the NDP and Green Party didn’t have much to say about the results of Monday’s federal election.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc of the NDP congratulated Liberal MP-designate Brendan Hanley on his victory in a Facebook post Monday night.

Earlier that evening, she said, “I don’t understand how not everyone in the country can’t vote around (party leader) Jagmeet Singh.

“He is an incredible leader for the movement we are bringing to the country, and it isn’t ending with this election.”

As for Hanley, she said, “I hope he moves forward in a good way.

“I hope he is accountable for the decisions the Liberal Party makes. And that he tries to move forward with respectful reconciliation.”

She planned to keep a careful eye on his efforts.

“I want to know what he brings forward on our behalf.”

As for her political future, Vollans-Leduc said, “I was just excited to run.

“People know about me now and I hope we continue with our work. We worked really hard and I think we made an impact in our territory. I really felt in my element running in this campaign.”

She wasn’t available to the Star for further comment Tuesday or this morning.

Green Party candidate Lenore Morris said: “I think it went well. We had to be very organized.

“By the time election day came, we were all exhausted. It was a sprint, not a marathon.”

She said being a second-time candidate lent her some advantages.

“I think I was a more polished candidate than the newcomers. I felt personally responsible to have a candidate, which is why I ran again, but I hope the next election will be more than 23 months from now.”

She was also her party’s Yukon candidate in 2019.

Morris said her favourite part of the 2021 campaign was the debates.

“I like the forums, but I wish there were real debates. I think environmental and climate change issues are the most important, but it’s dropped off because of COVID and some other issues.”

Morris did not respond to requests for an interview about the results.

Jonas Smith, who ran as an independent candidate, told the Star this morning he isn’t the slightest bit sympathetic to the notion the split vote amongst Conservative voters handed Hanley the election.

“The party wasn’t entitled to my votes,” he said bluntly. “I’m not the slightest bit sorry about my campaign.”

He said he had been hearing for months from local Conservative loyalists that the party had been been drifting too far from its roots as Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole navigated it toward the centre of the political spectrum.

“They were saying the party wasn’t representing them.”

Smith said he relayed those concerns to the party leadership – to no avail.

Eventually, of course, he was turfed from the Conservative candidacy just as the election was called. It seems unlikely that rift will be healed anytime soon.

Smith said under the proper circumstances, he might reconsider mending fences with the party, but that’s not likely right now.

“I’ll see what the future holds.”

He also predicted O’Toole won’t last long as party leader after the election failure.

“He’ll be out as fast as Patrick Brown was in Ontario,” he said of that province’s former Conservative Party leader.

Smith said he enjoyed the independent experience.

“I was very happy with the last five weeks and how my team has performed. It’s been a liberating experience and I would definitely do it again,” he said.

“Sadly, Canadians woke up this morning with the same political landscape we have been challenged by for six years now.  A political landscape which does not recognize the needs and priorities of Yukoners and what they deserve from Ottawa,” Smith added.

“That being said, here at home, the support I received from Yukoners throughout the territory and across the political spectrum is energizing and heartening. 

“I am  so inspired by the thousands of Yukoners seeking change and a voice which truly represents them.”