Stephen Harper asked Canadians for a majority and that’s what they gave him in the May 2 federal election. Harper’s Conservatives will rule in Parliament with 167 seats. He promised a stable government that will continue to focus on economic recovery and creating jobs, while keeping taxes low.
An orange tsunami that started in Quebec swept through the rest of the country in the last half of the campaign and made history after the votes were tallied. The New Democratic Party (NDP) became the official opposition for the first time in its 50-year history. The NDP won 60 of Quebec’s 75 seats, many of them from the Bloc Quebecois. The new MPs include a 19-year-old student who is the youngest MP to ever be elected to Parliament.
Both Michael Ignatieff, leader of the Liberal Party, and Gilles Duceppe, Bloc leader, failed to win their seats, leading to their resignations. Ignatieff led the party to its worst showing in its history, as it was reduced to 34 seats in Parliament, down from 77, winning only 18.9 per cent of the vote.
The election made history for another reason. Elizabeth May became the first elected Green Party MP in Canada. She has promised to work to restore respect and civility in Parliament, as well as represent her constituents in Ottawa.
Conservative John Weston easily won re-election in West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country. Weston’s knowledge of the riding should be beneficial in the Conservative majority government and it will be interesting to see if he is given a larger role in Ottawa during his second stint as MP.
When this election began 35 days ago, it seemed nobody wanted it and voters were disengaged. But as it progressed, voters became more interested, particularly young people, and in the end it will be remembered as causing a seismic shift in the country. With the Conservative majority and the NDP as official opposition, the split between the right and left is more defined. The question that remains to be answered is if the Liberal Party can rebuild to claim the centre.
