In the newly defined riding of Timmins, New Democratic Party orange proved unfailing as incumbent Gilles Bisson won his eighth straight term as MPP.

It's hardly an unfamiliar sight, Gilles Bisson being celebrated by his supporters for yet another victory.

He played a key role in what was an almost perfect northern NDP sweep, but the party as a whole folded under the weight of Ford nation.

"Negative works, you know. I hate to say it, but we were actually leading up until about a week and a half ago. Doug Ford decided to go negative and just say falsehoods, to be quite blunt." said Bisson.

The long-standing politician says the moment is bittersweet.

He had high hopes to form a new NDP Ontario government, but says working across party lines shouldn't be difficult.

"It's going to be different. Trying to work, like I've got good relationships with a lot of the Tories that are there, but Ford is sort of like the wild card in this whole thing." said Bisson.

He says the province's new premier is an unproven commodity in Queen's Park and isn't holding his breath for change.

As dozens of ridings throughout the province turned Ford blue, Yvan Genier, the Progressive Conservative candidate for Timmins, waited until the last polls were confirmed to admit defeat.

"I am a little bit upset of course, but you know what? I mean, the people of Timmins wanted to vote for Gilles once more. We have to put Timmins back on the map. I hope Gilles is up to the task. And you know what? I hope the people of Timmins hold him accountable." said Genier.

While Genier missed out on the Ford bandwagon, Timmins’ Liberal candidate Mickey Auger watched his party lose official status.

"The people wanted change and now they're going to have their change, and it's all good." said Auger.

As the post-election dust settles, many in Timmins are happy with the results:

"I'm happy that Bisson got in because he's done a lot for the north."

"Gilles Bisson got in and I was hoping for it, and I was happy when someone told me he came in first."

"It's a new beginning for Ontario and the Liberals got what they deserved."

As Bisson contemplates the next four years under a conservative majority, he makes an interesting point. The newly formed Timmins riding won't have to share provincial funds with other area communities, which could mean some relief from the worn narrative that the city never gets a dime from Queen's Park.