Conservative Party Wins Canadian Election

PM Stephen Harper's Party Gains Parliamentary Seats, But Not Enough For Clear Majority

(AP)  Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the first major world leader to face voters since the global financial meltdown, led his Conservative Party to victory in Tuesday's election but was forecast to fall short of a majority in Parliament.

The election agency reported on its Web site that the Conservatives had won or were leading in races for 143 of Parliament's 308 seats, an improvement over the 127 seats the party had in the previous Parliament.

But, based on results obtained directly from election officials, Canadian Broadcasting Corp. predicted the Conservative Party would not win the 155 seats needed to govern on its own. That would force it to again rely on opposition support to pass budgets and legislation - as it has had to since a 2006 election victory.

Harper had called elections early in hopes of getting his party a majority, but the Conservatives sought to put a good face on the results, pointing to their increased number of seats.

"Our party is bigger, our support base is broader and more and more Canadians are finding a home in the Conservative Party of Canada," Harper said early Wednesday.

"We have shown that minority government can work and at this time of global economic instability we owe it to Canadians to demonstrate this once again," he added.

The Liberal Party, long Canada's top party, suffered a severe drubbing, dropping about two dozen seats from 95 in the previous Parliament, according to the election agency. Bloc Quebecois led for about 50 seats, the New Democrats just under 40 and independent candidates 2.

Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion conceded to Harper earlier Wednesday.

"I have talked to Prime Minister Harper to offer him congratulations and my full cooperation in these difficult economic times," Dion said.

The party winning the most seats generally forms the government, with its leader becoming prime minister. The opposition parties could unite and topple Harper if they won enough seats for a majority, but analysts said that was unlikely because the parties have no tradition of forming such coalitions.

The opposition Liberals have typically been the party in power, forming the government for most of Canada's 141 years. But the left-of-center vote was divided among four parties, giving an edge to the Conservatives.

Dion's campaign was hindered by his unpopular plan to tax all fossil fuels except gasoline and by perceptions he is a weak leader. A former professor from French-speaking Quebec, Dion also suffered in other regions because he frequently mangles English grammar and his accent makes him hard to understand.

Dion said Canadians have asked him to be their official opposition leader, a signal that he's not ready to step down at this point.

If Dion was ousted as leader after a loss, he would be just the second Liberal leader to fail to become Canada's prime minister. The only other was Edward Blake, who led the party to defeat in the 1882 and 1887 elections.

Analysts said Harper wanted the election before the economy got worse and ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November, which could put a Democrat in the White House and encourage Canadians to choose a more liberal government.

At the campaign's start, polls suggested Harper would increase the Conservative bloc in Parliament above the 155-seat threshold needed to form a majority government.

Then the global credit crisis worsened and many Canadians complained Harper was slow to react. He hurt himself by saying during a debate that Canadians were not concerned about jobs or mortgages. A few days later, he said stocks were cheap - just before Canada's main stock exchange had its worst week in almost 70 years.

Harper later said he knows Canadians are worried and stressed that Canada's economic and fiscal performance contrasts to the more dire situation in the United States.

On Wednesday, he said he will "hold out a hand to all members of all parties asking them to join together to protect the economy and weather this world financial crisis."

"I want to ensure Canadians that working together we will weather this storm and we will position our economy stronger than ever before," Harper said.

Canada's main stock exchange rose more than 9 percent Tuesday following moves by governments in the U.S. and Europe to recapitalize major banks and try to unfreeze credit markets. The Canadian dollar closed up 1.40 U.S. cents, at 86.09 U.S. cents.

Opponents sought to paint Harper as a right-winger who would seek to reshape Canada like a U.S.-style Republican and sought to tie him to the unpopular President Bush.

Since becoming prime minister in 2006, Harper extended Canada's military mission in Afghanistan and pulled Canada out of the Kyoto Protocol, which commits industrialized nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Harper supported the U.S.-led war in Iraq when he was in the opposition in 2003. Dion was part of the Liberal government that opposed the war.

[erasmus81]

jankebenz

And the NDP is NOT a communist style party.

[erasmus81]

After what they did to BC, Sask,and Ontario? I don''''t think so. Most Canadians know better than to elect a communist stlye party.

Posted by jankebenz at 03:36 PM : Oct 15, 2008

Are you serious? Please tell me EXACTLY what they did to B.C., Sask., and Ontario.

[jankebenz]

No, they don''''t. It should be the NDP running the country.

Posted by erasmus81 at 03:26 PM : Oct 15, 2008

After what they did to BC, Sask,and Ontario? I don''t think so. Most Canadians know better than to elect a communist stlye party.

[erasmus81]

"...too many of the populace still don''''t see the light." Posted by jankebenz at 03:17 PM : Oct 15, 2008

No, they don''t. It should be the NDP running the country.

[erasmus81]

"I forgot about this board. But, that''''s understandable since the topic is pretty much irrelevant. Canada? Isn''''t that a soft drink? Or, is that one of those islands in the Pacific where people run around naked?"

Posted by tuckerndfw at 03:06 PM : Oct 15, 2008

Hahaha. You are just jealous. You just wish that you could live in such a great country. If you lived here, you would think that you had died and gone to "HEAVEN".

"Canada''''s conservatives would probably be considered communists by US conservatives."

Yes, I know that there are a lot of Americans that think Canadians are communists.:)

[jankebenz]

Canadians were lead by the liberals for the most till 2006. After a long plague of scandals and inept government, Canadians finally had enough of the liberals and voted in the conservatives in 2006.Unfortunately not enough to form a majority, too many of the populace still don''t see the light.

[erasmus81]

usclimey - I just noticed this on the other site.

"Hey erasmus - what does our Canadian friend think of this??"

Posted by usclimey at 02:59 PM : Oct 14, 2008

I think it sucks. But at least they won''''t have full control.

[erasmus81]

"What happens if all the leftish parties refuse to join a right-led coalition? Can they form a coalition of their own and outvote the Cons?"

I have no idea. I am brain dead when it comes to politics.:) Well,....not completely brain dead.

[erasmus81]

"Everyone''''s white, and 90% of Canadians live within 100 miles of the United States border..."

Posted by MissWasilla at 06:57 AM : Oct 15, 2008

Don''t know much about Canada, I see.

[erasmus81]

Once global warming has the rest of the world melting, places like Alaska and the Canadian "interior" will become the only inhabitable places on earth, along with Siberia.

Posted by MissWasilla at 07:09 AM : Oct 15, 2008

Hmmmm, if you have read anything on global warming, then you would know that the further north you are, the faster you are going to feel the effects of global warming.

[usclimey]

Posted by erasmus81

Hi Erasmus - at least we''re getting rid of our conservatives.

What happens if all the leftish parties refuse to join a right-led coalition? Can they form a coalition of their own and outvote the Cons?

[erasmus81]

Well, cr*p, there goes my plan to move to Canada if McCain wins the election. . .


Posted by tuckerndfw at 04:06 AM : Oct 15, 2008

Why? It doesn''t matter who is Prime Minister, they will not be like McCain. Our "parties" are not the same as your "parties". Your Democrats are actually classified as "Liberals", aren''t they? We have a "New Democrat Party" and a "Liberal" party. They are not the same. And I don''t think that our Democrat party is the same as your Democrat party.

Anyways, you can''t lose by moving to Canada. We are all FREE here.:)

[lochlan-2009]

Guess what, I never have to agree with you the constitution says so, and my family has fount in world wars to keep it so.

Posted by beauin

You idiot, don''t you know the Constitution according to Bush is just a "*** piece of paper".

[lochlan-2009]

The corrupt crime ring administration in D.C. moves North for a fresh Treasury to plunder.

[beauin]

well Nancy Naive, I am headed to Canada if "that one" is elected. Good luck with your civil war! No money, end fighting, and a bunch of new taxes...and why do we stay in the US? Just like all "messiah" lovers you hate anyone who does not agree with you. Guess what, I never have to agree with you the constitution says so, and my family has fount in world wars to keep it so. There will be mass migration when things fail....enjoy

[hologram5]

Boy, a lot of finger pointing going on here. First of all, if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. I dont see any solutions in this comment section. Second, the global warming thing happens in a cycle on this planet, we are just a little overdue, this will turn into another ice age eventually so hold onto your hats and just wait...

[tmn]

"...the left-of-center vote was divided among four parties, giving an edge to the Conservatives."
---
And therein lies the big problem - four, count ''em - 4 parties sharing the left vote. Watered down is NOT helping things except for the Right...

[xlib]

Living on the border and actually knowing some Canadians, their previous socialist government was NOT the utopia many here think it is.
Say, maybe I;ll move to Canada if the messiah steals the election.