This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7668738.stm

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Canada holds credit crunch poll Canada Conservatives 'set to win'
(about 13 hours later)
Canada is holding its third general election in four years, with the global financial crisis looming over the poll. Voting has ended in Canada's third general election in four years, with early results showing victory for the ruling Conservatives.
Conservative PM Stephen Harper, who has headed a minority government since 2006, called the snap poll in a bid to secure a majority in parliament. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who has headed a minority government since 2006, called the snap poll in a bid to secure a majority in parliament.
Opinion polls suggest his party is on course to win but without a majority. The main challenge has come from the Liberals led by Stephane Dion.
The main challenge comes from the official opposition, the Liberals led by Stephane Dion. The first polls opened at 0830 local time (1100 GMT). However, despite winning more seats, Mr Harper still looks likely to fall short of a parliamentary majority.
Voting concludes on Canada's Pacific coast at 0200 GMT on Wednesday, with results expected shortly after that. The first polls opened at 0830 local time (1100 GMT), with the last polling stations closing on the Pacific coast at 0200 GMT.
Voter surveys have suggested market turmoil may have derailed Mr Harper's hopes of securing a majority, the BBC's Lee Carter reports from Toronto. Early results indicate that the Conservatives can expect to win 144 seats in the 308- seat parliament, falling short of the 155 needed for a majority.
Canada is the first big economic power to go to the polls to elect a new government since the financial crisis. Before this election, the Conservatives held 127 seats.
Mr Harper called the election last month amid hopes in his party that they could secure a majority. Canada was the first big economic power to go to the polls to elect a new government since the financial crisis.
Conservative MP Jason Kenny hailed his party's result in the present circumstances.
"Every other incumbent government in the Western world is in serious political trouble with the economic situation," he said.
"Ours is probably the only one that could be re-elected - let alone with an increased mandate."
Stephen Harper called the snap poll last month
Mr Harper called the election last month amid hopes in his Conservative party that they could secure a majority.
But he was criticised during the campaign for not showing enough empathy with Canadians who have lost money during the upheaval on the stock markets.But he was criticised during the campaign for not showing enough empathy with Canadians who have lost money during the upheaval on the stock markets.
Mr Harper's main rival, Liberal leader Stephane Dion, has been promoting an ambitious green carbon tax plan. Mr Harper's main rival, Liberal leader Stephane Dion, had been promoting an ambitious green carbon tax plan.
But Mr Dion, a French Canadian from Quebec, has had difficulty connecting with English-speaking voters, our correspondent says. But Mr Dion, a French Canadian from Quebec, had difficulty connecting with English-speaking voters, the BBC's Lee Carter says.
This could lead to a split of votes between the opposition, the Liberals and two smaller parties, the New Democrats and the Greens. The Bloc Quebecois was locked in a close battle to retain its dominance in French-speaking Quebec.
The Bloc Quebecois is set for a close battle to retain its dominance in French-speaking Quebec.