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Canadians re-elect Conservatives Canadians re-elect Conservatives
(about 1 hour later)
Canada's ruling Conservative Party has been re-elected to another minority government, according to early results from Canada's elections agency. Canada's ruling Conservative Party has been re-elected to head another minority government, according to early results from Canada's elections agency.
The Conservatives, led by Stephen Harper, won 143 seats, an increase but still short of the 155 needed for a parliamentary majority. The Conservatives, led by Stephen Harper, won 143 seats, a big increase but still short of the 155 needed for a parliamentary majority.
The opposition Liberal Party, led by Stephane Dion, has won 78 seats, a loss of more than 15 seats. The opposition Liberal Party, led by Stephane Dion, has won 76 seats, a loss of nearly 20 seats.
It will be Canada's third minority government in four years.It will be Canada's third minority government in four years.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper called the snap poll - the country's third election in four years - in a bid to secure a majority in parliament. Early results indicated that the Conservatives had taken 37.6% of the vote, the Elections Canada website reported.
Early results indicated that his Conservatives had taken 38% of the vote, the Elections Canada website reported. The Liberals secured 26.2% of the vote.
The Liberals secured 26.3% of the vote. Mr Harper hailed his party's increase of 16 seats as he claimed victory in the western city of Calgary.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper addresses his supporters at a victory rally
"Our party is bigger, our support base is broader and more and more Canadians are finding a home in the Conservative Party," he said.
He promised to work with the other parties in the House of Commons "to protect the economy and weather this financial crisis".
Mr Harper called the snap poll - the country's third election in four years - in the hope of securing a majority.
He had described the previous parliament as deadlocked and dysfunctional.
Economic turmoil
Canada was the first big economic power to go to the polls to elect a new government since the financial crisis.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. The global financial crisis came to dominate the campaign, and Mr Harper was criticised for taking a "stay-the-course" approach and for not showing enough empathy with Canadians affected by the stock market turbulence.
"Every other incumbent government in the Western world is in serious political trouble with the economic situation," he said. ELECTION RESULTS Conservatives: 143 seats, 37.6%Liberals: 76 seats, 26.2%Bloc Quebecois: 50 seats, 10%NDP: 37 seats, 18.2% Other parties: 2 seats, 8% Source: Elections Canada
"Ours is probably the only one that could be re-elected - let alone with an increased mandate." The Conservatives also failed to gain much-needed support in the province of Quebec, where his cuts to arts funding were not well received.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper But the Liberals failed to inspire voters with an ambitious green carbon tax plan, says the BBC's Lee Carter in Toronto.
Mr Harper called the election last month amid hopes in his Conservative party that they could secure a majority. Mr Dion conceded defeat at a rally in Montreal, offering Mr Harper his "full co-operation in these difficult economic times".
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 Dion, a French-Canadian from Quebec, also had difficulty connecting with English-speaking voters, our correspondent says.
Liberal leader Stephane Dion had been promoting an ambitious green carbon tax plan. He gave no indication he would be stepping down as Liberal leader over his party's loss of seats.
But Mr Dion, a French Canadian from Quebec, had difficulty connecting with English-speaking voters, the BBC's Lee Carter says. "Canadians are asking me to be the leader of the opposition and I accept that responsibility as an honour," he said.
In other results, the separatist Bloc Quebecois picked up two seats for a total of 50, while the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP) gained seven seats to finish with 37.