Embattled Conservative MP, Colin Mayes, will be heading back to Ottawa.

The Member of Parliament for Okanagan-Shuswap, who was the centre of a firestorm 18 months ago over what was considered a racist joke against aboriginal people.

In April 2006, Mayes retracted statements he made saying certain journalists should be thrown in jail.

Mayes was re-elected to office Tuesday during a Conservative sweep of the Okanagan with nearly 52%, about eight percentage points better than 2006.

"Naturally, we'd have liked to have seen a majority, but we've improved our overall popular vote and increased our number of seats and I think it's obvious Canadians are happy with our government," says Mayes.

"If we had made some gains in Quebec, we would have had our majority."

Mayes says the results point to the confidence Canadians have in Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.

He says his top priorities are to improve both the Trans Canada Highway and Highway 97.

"I'll definitely continue to work with the Minister of Transportation and the province on those. The other thing is to continue to work with the municipalities. I have a background in local government and I know the challenges they face to provide good infrastructure to their communities."

Listen to interview with Colin Mayes.

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