Sand in the Shorts: After the signs have come down...

Dedicated to the memory of Betty Albrecht, wife of Conservative MP Harold Albrecht (Kitchener - Conestoga), who passed away as a result of a brain hemorrhage on Wednesday. Mrs. Albrecht collapsed Monday night as the couple were about to leave their home for a campaign victory party. Married for 39 years, Betty Albrecht was 59.

The election is over. The signs are coming down, offices being cleaned out, supplies going back into storage for the next four years or so (October 19, 2015 is the next scheduled election), the winners – especially the new crop of MP's, including the NDP Kiddie Korps - are organizing their offices and staffs, and generally preparing for a throne speech expected to come around the end of the month. A month of hard campaigning rewarded by victory and the opportunity to go to Ottawa and serve the people of their constituency.

But what of those who wont be going to Ottawa. For every one Member of Parliament elected, three or more candidates now deal with their defeat. Men and women from all backgrounds who gave their time, money, and effort only to be turned away at the ballot box. For these, there is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

For some, who lost a seat in the Commons, there is the cleaning out of offices in Ottawa and back in their riding, winding up their affairs and residence in Ottawa, and returning to the life they had before first being elected. They are now unemployed, and while hardly destitute, they face the same challenge many ordinary Canadians have over the years – job change. And as anyone who's gone through this will know, the psychological ramifications can be immense, affecting self worth, etc.

For others, who ran for office from outside Parliament, they go back to families they haven't been able to spend much time with, jobs which they may have taken a leave from, and likely a significantly depleted bank account. Depending on their workplace, some may have been forced to take a leave of absence, meaning they've been living on their savings for the last month, increasing the economic cost of running to them and their family. And the loss itself can impact their psychological well-being. No-one wants to lose, no one runs without the goal, and hope (no matter how slim) of winning. For some, the impact of a loss can hit hard, affecting their self worth, and their picture of how the world sees them.

So as we fete the winners, consider the ramifications of the outcome on national policies, and discuss possibilities for Cabinet and shadow-Cabinets, spare a minute for those who cared enough to run, but weren't successful. While they lost at the ballot box, they should have won your respect. Without them, our democracy could not work, and we would all be the worse for that.

Quick hits: 

• Expect rookie MP Chris Alexander (Ajax-Pickering) to be named Foreign Affairs minister in the new cabinet. With the defeat of current minister Lawrence Cannon, and Alexander's experience as ambassador and in other roles with Foreign Affairs, it's a near certainty.

• And have traffic engineers in Belleville heard of sensors? I have repeatedly had the traffic lights at College St W and Heartwood turn red on College late at night, when there was no pedestrian or vehicle traffic anywhere on Heartwood – or anywhere else in sight. Traffic lights at this corner would be best set to flashing red for Heartwood and amber for College after 10 or 11 pm – with pedestrians able to call a red with the crossing button. How about it, Mayor?