Region, local municipalities ready to work with new and returning MPs

Regional Chair Karen Redman says now that the federal election is over, the region is prepared to work with all local Members of Parliament on both sides of the aisle.

Monday's election saw three Liberal MPs and one Green MP elected in Waterloo region. As of Wednesday at noon, the results in Kitchener-Conestoga remain outstanding with the process of counting mail-in ballots still underway and the race too close to call, although Liberal incumbent Tim Louis does have a slight lead over Conservative Carlene Hawley.

If Louis is re-elected, it will mean three of the five MPs will have had previous experience in Parliament.

Redman says from the region's perspective, having both MPs who are part of the governing party and on the opposition benches is good for the community.

"Elections can be really divisive but if you look at the major issues that resonate in Waterloo region: affordability, housing, climate change and child care, most of the major parties did agree or had some plank in their platform and they sort of haggled over the other five per cent," she said in an interview on CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition.

"The federal challenges can be addressed at the municipal level and I think federal governments have recognized that in the past and we will work with whoever's in government," Redman added.

"That's both sides of the aisle too, because opposition members or members that aren't members of the government still can be really effective in taking our voice to Ottawa."