It was the first time since he was elected in 1988 that Keyes, an outspoken critic of former prime minister Jean Chretien and internal party rival of Sheila Copps, had a real fight on his hands and he neither rose to the occasion nor above the fallout of the sponsorship scandal.
But Hamilton's other voice in the inner circle of power, Transport Minister Tony Valeri, managed to hold on in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, thus leaving the city with at least one homegrown voice in Paul Martin's cabinet
Valeri, who after a bitter battle with Copps for the nomination in Hamilton East- Stoney Creek, not only managed to survive a strong threat from New Democrat candidate Tony DePaulo, he won despite the efforts of disaffected Copps supporters.
Given the Liberal minority government, the importance of Valeri's victory can't be overestimated.
If Valeri had tumbled to defeat along with Keyes, Hamilton would have effectively shot itself in both feet. Source.
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