Progressive Conservative candidate Doug Holyday called for the support of Ford Nation in the riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore and they appeared to have answered.

The deputy mayor and Mayor Rob Ford ally succeeded in the Tories' quest of gaining a foothold in Toronto with his defeat of prominent city councillor and Liberal Peter Milczyn.

The last mayor of the old city of Etobicoke secured 16,130 votes in one of five byelections held across the province on Thursday, according to unofficial results posted by Elections Ontario. Milczyn grabbed 14,513 votes and NDP candidate P.C. Choo fell well behind with 2,705.

The run-off between Holyday and Milczyn proved to be fierce throughout the 28-day campaign.

Ford campaigns

Holyday focused his attention on the Liberal gas plant scandal while Milczyn and the governing Liberals sparked a war of words with Mayor Ford, who didn't shy away from campaigning for the Tories.

Earlier this week, while out campaigning in Etobicoke with Holyday, Ford called the government corrupt and urged voters to support the New Democrats if they wouldn't vote Conservative

Transportation Minister Glen Murray fired back the next day criticizing Ford for injecting himself in the byelection and likened Holyday to a "mouthpiece candidate now who is basically running now on the coattails of the mayor and his brother."

Ford called Murray's comments "unbelievable" and an "embarrassment."

"The provincial government affects us. You have to get involved," he said. "You choose a candidate and you get behind them."

With files from The Canadian Press