So says John Ibbitson.

In fairness, this column was probably written before the results came in last night but still – it just underscores why you shouldn’t read too much into by elections.

Even after the famed Outremont “disaster”, Dion gained seats in Quebec – the only part of the country where that happened. And it’s not like Thomas Mulcair led the Orange Revolution across Quebec last election.

There are unique cases when a by election does represent something out of the ordinary – I’d say the Wildrose Alliance win in Calgary last year falls into that category. But, despite the change in vote support, last night was about as ordinary as by elections get. A popular incumbent resigns and their party’s share of the vote drops. A star candidate replaces them.

Yawn.