Conservative candidate Rob Clarke won the federal byelection in northern Saskatchewan on Monday evening.

With 180 of 182 polls reporting, Elections Canada said Clarke had 4,996 votes or 47.8 per cent of the vote in the riding of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River.

Joan Beatty, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion's handpicked candidate, had 3,287 votes or 31.4 per cent of the vote. The NDP's Brian Morin had 1,839 votes or 17.6 per cent of vote.

Clarke, a sergeant with the RCMP, said he's glad the riding will finally have a voice in government after electing opposition members the last two times around.

"To have a government member in this riding, I use the cliche, you can't yell across the floor to get things done," Clarke said. "I guarantee we will have a stronger voice in caucus."

The remote, predominantly aboriginal riding, was considered a key race to win for Dion since he bypassed the nomination process and appointed former Saskatchewan New Democrat MLA Beatty over David Orchard, a key organizer for Dion's 2006 leadership bid.

Beatty said that despite the loss, she has no regrets and hopes to win the Liberal nomination the next time there is a federal election in the riding.

"I still believe that I made the right decision," she said. "I got good solid advice. I prayed about it and I still believe that this is what I am supposed to be doing."

The Saskatchewan riding was one of four constituencies that staged byelections on Monday. Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River was up for grabs after Liberal Gary Merasty stepped down last year to work for mining company Cameco.

The four races were considered crucial for the Liberals, who suffered a humiliating shutout in three Quebec byelections exactly six months ago.

"Mr. Dion is in a position where anything short of four [seats] is going to cause some problems," political analyst Joe Jordan, a former Liberal MP, told CBC News earlier on Monday.

With files from the Canadian Press