Harper’s conservatives gain ground
by John Syratt

"God bless Canada," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in the final words of his acceptance speech as the Conservative Party was given a slightly larger minority government in the October 14th election.

The Conservatives gained 19 more seats than their 2006 election results and ended up with 143 (just 12 seats shy of a majority government). The Liberals dropped to 76 seats. The BQ Party finished with 50 seats. The NDP with 37 and two independent candidates were elected. The Green Party came up empty-handed.

"Tonight, Canadians sent a message," Harper told his supporters at the Telus Convention Centre in downtown Calgary. "They said yes to a continued Conservative government and yes to more Conservatives in Ottawa. I am honored to have the continued trust of Canadians to lead their government in the years ahead, and we will deliver."

Harper congratulated all the participants in the election along with the party leaders, as well as the independents who won. He also thanked those who would not be returning to Canada’s 40th parliament and said their service was appreciated and they would be missed.

Lloyd Robertson, CTV News anchor, called Harper’s address, "a speech we can put under the umbrella of graciousness." Craig Oliver, CTV’s Chief Political Correspondent was not as kind. In reference to an election he believed was unnecessary, he quipped, "We are is where we was. What was that all about?"

"We will keep our promises," Harper said. "We will do what we said we will do."

In these times of global economic uncertainty, 42% of Canadian voters stayed away from the polls in this election producing the lowest percentage of voter turnout in Canadian history.

In Alberta, 27 of the 28 seats were won by the Conservative Party. The NDP won a seat in Edmonton-Strathcona. In BC, Harper’s government won 22 out of 36 seats. The NDP picked up nine and the Liberals ended up with five. In Saskatchewan, the Conservatives won 13 out of 14 seats, with the Liberals winning one. In Manitoba’s 14 ridings, the Conservatives gained nine seats. The NDP landed four seats and the Liberals got one.

So, for Western Canada the election results were: Conservatives: 71 seats; NDP: 14 seats; and Liberals: 7 seats.