Harper captures his majority with NDP forming historic OppositionThe Conservatives have finally captured their coveted majority government in an historic election that vaulted the NDP to a stunning second-place finish, making them the official Opposition, pushing aside the Liberals to a humiliating third.
At the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper expressed elation at his huge win. "What a great night," Harper told more than 1,500 cheering Conservative supporters. "A strong, stable, national Conservative government," he said. Harper said Canadians "can now turn the page from uncertainties" with a majority government. "They chose hope and unity of purpose," he said. "We must be the government of all Canadians including those who didn't vote for us."
It is the first time in Canadian history that the Liberal party did not finish either first or second.“It’s tough to lose like this,” said Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, who lost his own riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore.
The Liberals have never suffered a crushing defeat, either in popular support or seat.
“Defeat is a teacher and now we have to learn the lesson of defeat and look at ourselves in the mirror,” Ignatieff said.The night was full of surprises, but in the end Stephen Harper got what he has so long sought after – a healthy majority. The Tories won 167 seats, earning 40 per cent of the vote.
The NDP nearly tripled the 36 seats the party held at dissolution, winning 102 seats while the Liberals took 34
A triumphant NDP Leader Jack Layton strode through the crowd to speak to his supporters.
“I let Mr. Harper know that I look forward to working with his party and in fact with all parties to get things done for our families. And I shared with him my desire to bring a more positive and respectful tone to Parliament,” Layton said.
Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe lost his Montreal riding after a 21-year run. The 63-year-old Duceppe proved to be just another Bloc pushover on Monday as the NDP steamrolled to a crushing victory in Quebec.Duceppe, who became the Bloc's first MP in 1990, was defeated by the NDP's Helene Laverdiere in Laurier-Sainte-Marie. He announced he would be officially resigning in the next couple of days but will continue to fight for Quebec sovereignty.
The Liberals were pounded in Ontario with the Conservatives making gains in Toronto. In the 905 belt around Toronto long-time Liberals MPs were falling, including Ruby Dhalla in Brampton-Springdale and Mark Holland in Ajax-Pickering where he conceded to political novice Chris Alexander, former ambassador to Afghanistan....
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