Harper gets his majority; Canadians embrace NDP, reject Liberals, BQ

Canadian voters handed Stephen Harper the majority government he has sought since he came on the political scene and proved the pollsters wrong.

In addition they handed a humiliating defeat to the Liberal party, rejecting not only the political organisation but its leader, Michael Ignatieff, who lost his seat in Ontario. 

And in another stunning political realignment, they turned their backs on the separatist Bloc Quebecois (BQ) and handed the majority of the seats in Quebec to the NDPl leaving only four for the BQ.

Harper was ecstatic as he celebrated his first majority win with supporters in Calgary, thanking them for their support and loyalty to the Conservatives.

He said government affairs will begin "as early as tomorrow" with a plan for creating jobs and growth without increasing taxes, immediate help for families and seniors and eliminating the deficit while maintaining health-care transfers to provinces and territories.

"And friends I have to say it — a strong, stable, national Conservative majority government," Harper said in reference to his campaign mantra.

The results mean that Jack Layton, whose NDP won its most seats ever - 103 - will become the leader of the opposition.

The NDP started well behind the two other main national parties but surged ahead as the campaign progressed. By election day the party was just over 31 per cent, neck and neck with the Conservatives who were just under 33 per cent - well within the margin of error.

The pollsters were convinced that Harper would get another minority government - the third in a row - and that there was a strong possibility of an NDP-Liberal coalition. However the voters had another view.

At the last moment centre right Liberals, fearing a victory by the NDP, switched allegiances to the Tories and gave Harper the majority of 167 seats which put the Conservatives firmly in charge for the next four years.

The final tally shows the Tories won just under 40 per cent of the popular vote with the NDP second with 30.62 - nine points below.

It was a stunning performance for the NDP, which also changed the political equation in French-speaking Quebec, which had always been dominated by the separatist Bloc Quebecois. Quebec rejected not only separatism but its high priest, BQ leader, Gilles Duceppe, who also lost his seat.

In a speech to cheering supporters Duceppe said it is clear that Quebec is prepared to give federalism another chance. However he signaled that it is not the end of the separatist cause. "I am leaving, but others will follow until Quebec becomes a country," he said.

Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party, defeated former Conservative cabinet minister Gary Lunn in British Columbia, to give the party its first seat in Parliament. "Today we proved that Canadians want change in politics," she told a crowd of jubilant supporters.

The Liberal party faced its worst defeat ever and the membership wants blood. The former Harvard professor had said he won't quit. However the extent of the defeat could be too intense for him to stay. He is expected to make a statement Tuesday.

In a statement Monday night he said there remains a need for a party at the centre of Canadian political life as he refused to walk away from the leadership. "I will serve as long as the party wants me to serve and asks me to serve, and not a day longer," he told supporters.

For full coverage of Canada's election please visit cbc.ca