The PCs gained another seat last night in the district of Baie Verte-Green Bay as Lin Paddock won a decisive victory in the by-election.

Preliminary results show Paddock earning 4,271 of the 5,402 votes cast. Liberal candidate Owen Burt came in a distant second with 1,035.

Health care, roads and cost of living were all identified as important issues for voters as he knocked on doors in the district, but one of the biggest issues says Paddock, surrounded Crown Lands.

“That is a major issue,” says Paddock, “collectively as a province we have to be smarter with Crown lands. It is holding up economic activity, it is creating stress on seniors who want to downsize and move on.”