Canada Votes In Stronger Conservative Government (15Oct08)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper handed strengthened minority government
Wednesday, October 15, 2008 6:12 AM ET
CBC News
Canadians were waking up Wednesday to news the country had elected its third consecutive minority government, with Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservatives returning to Ottawa with a strengthened mandate following a national vote Tuesday.
“Canadians have voted to move our country forward and they have done so with confidence,” Harper told a rally in Calgary as supporters celebrated the party’s victory and the end of a tumultuous — and at times rancorous — 37-day campaign.
As of early Wednesday with almost 60 per cent of votes counted, the Conservatives were elected or leading in 143 ridings, up from 127 in 2006, while the Liberals were elected or leading in 76, a drop of 19 seats from the party’s standing at dissolution.
(continued)