The momentum of the Liberals at the national level was not enough to carry a Liberal candidate over the finish line in either Kamloops riding, with both incumbent Conservative Party candidates re-elected in the 45th general election.

Frank Caputo and Mel Arnold will be heading back to Ottawa, commanding more than 50 percent of the vote in their respective ridings for the first time since 2011, in a strong show of support for the Conservatives.

But the two will do so as the official opposition, with the Conservatives coming up with 144 seats to the Liberals’ 169, which falls just short of a majority government.

“We did receive near-historic levels of support,” Caputo said of the election results.

“The reality is, we couldn’t predict the tariffs or the element of Donald Trump. What was completely unforeseen was the collapse of the NDP vote, which really led to a lot of surprises,” Caputo told the Chronicle one day after the election.

Arnold pointed to new Liberal leader Mark Carney as one factor in that party’s election win, as well as the NDP’s failure to differentiate themselves from the Liberals and “influence from down south.”

“Six months ago, if this election had been called then, or even four months ago, it would have been a much different outcome,” Arnold said.

Even Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre failed to win his riding and he is no longer an MP.

Caputo said Poilievre was elected as party leader with 70 percent support, which he called “something that should not be easily displaced.”

“He’s obviously going to do some thinking and decide where he wants to go from here,” Caputo said.

Arnold said “it’s his call” on whether or not Poilievre will remain as the leader of the Conservative Party.

“It’s pretty early in the process at this point to know what may happen. I’m sure there’s a lot of thoughts going through his mind,” he said.

The Conservatives came up short of forming government and will again become the official opposition — a role both MPs are familiar with, having served as such against the Trudeau Liberals.

Both Arnold and Caputo said they would be happy to serve in a role in opposition.

“I’ll fill whatever role I am asked to. The most important thing is that you’re part of a team and you’ll do whatever the team asks of you,” Caputo said.

Arnold pointed to his constituency work as his main focus.

“The big thing is representing people of the riding. That’s always the top priority,” Arnold said.

Arnold’s main MP office was previously in Vernon, but that city is no longer part of his new riding, and he said he will be relocating.

In the interim, he asked constituents requiring his services to contact him via his website, at melarnold.ca or by his toll-free number, 1-800-665-5040.

Caputo said with the new riding boundaries he’ll be traveling around and meeting his new constituents and is considering a mobile office in the interim. He said constituents can contact him by email at [email protected] or by phone at 250-851-4991.