OTTAWA – The federal Conservatives have reclaimed the central Ontario seat they lost earlier this year when cabinet minister Bev Oda resigned under a cloud.

Erin O’Toole, a former air force pilot and navy captain turned corporate lawyer, easily won Monday’s byelection in the riding of Durham, leaving the second-place New Democrat challenger well in his wake.

Oda, 68, stepped down in July after a series of spending and expense controversies that tarnished the Conservative brand as tight-fisted managers.

The byelection was one of three called by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to replace MPs who resigned for various reasons.

In a closely watched race unfolding in Calgary Centre, Conservative candidate Joan Crockatt was in a tight, see-saw battle against Liberal hopeful Harvey Locke, with Green party candidate Chris Turner running a close third.

Early results from the B.C. riding of Victoria weren’t immediately available.