The Tories have won a landslide victory in the byelection in Baie Verte-Green Bay.

The celebrations have begun at PC candidate Lin Paddock’s campaign headquarters in Springdale after the party garnered almost 80 per cent of the vote.

Preliminary results from Elections N.L.:

• Lin Paddock, PC – 4,271
• Owen Burt, LIB – 1,035
• Riley Harnett, NDP – 96

52/52 polls reporting.

After three byelections this year, the Tories now have a net gain of one seat, while Liberals have a net loss of one seat. The slim Liberal majority in the House has now become even slimmer, with the governing party holding 21 out of 40 seats (not including the Speaker), while the Tories will increase to 13 seats, with 3 New Democrats and 2 independents.

There will have to be a fourth byelection in the fall once Health Minister Tom Osborne’s resignation in Waterford Valley takes effect.

NTV’s Don Bradshaw is covering the election results and will have reaction on Tuesday on the NTV Evening Newshour.