CANADA VOTES 2015: Canada votes in Liberal majority

Results are still coming in, but numbers so far show Canadians chose a Liberal government.

As of 10:15 p.m. Saskatchewan time, the party was elected in 172 ridings and leading in another 13. To form a majority government, at least 170 seats are needed by a party. If the Liberals secure where they are leading, they would have 187 seats.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives were elected in 91 ridings and leading in 11. The NDP were at 28 elected and leading in 10.

Ballots are still being counted. (For up-to-the-second results, click here.)

SEAT COUNT

The last time Canadians voted, they choose a Conservative majority government. Stephen Harper’s party secured 167 seats out of 308.  (To form a majority, 155 seats needed to be held by a party.)

The NDP formed the official opposition under the leadership of Jack Layton with 103 seats. And the Liberals, being led by Michael Ignatieff, found themselves the third place party after losing half the seats the party went into the election holding.

When the campaign started this year, the Conservatives held 159 seats, the NDP had 95 and the Liberals carried 36. Another 18 seats were vacant, held by independents or shared between the Green Party and the Bloc Quebecois and a splinter group.

The number of seats has grown to 338 so the number needed to form a majority government now sits at 170. Thirty new seats have been added this election. Half are in Ontario while Alberta and B.C. got six each. Quebec has another three.

PARTIES HOPEFUL

During this year’s campaign, polls had predicted a Liberal minority government, which would mean a second generation Trudeau would become prime minister. 

The Conservatives went into this election with hopes of securing a fourth term.  If successful, Stephen Harper would be the first prime minister since Sir Wilfrid Laurier to accomplished that feat and Laurier did it more than 100 years ago.

Meanwhile, the NDP hoped to form government for the first time federally.

SASKATCHEWAN’S CITY SEATS

Going into this election, there was one lone Liberal in this province. Ralph Goodale has held on to his seat in Regina since winning it in 1993.  (He first was elected to Parliament in the 1970s.) Goodale defeated the Conservatives’ Michael Kram as well as the NDP’s April Bourgeois and the Green Party’s Frances Simonson to keep the Regina-Wascana seat.

The 13 other ridings are all held by Conservatives. Another incumbent who held onto his seat is Andrew Scheer, running for the Conservatives in Regina-Qu’Appelle. His future in that seat depended on him beating the Liberals’ Della Anaquod, the NDP’s Nial Kuyek and the Green Party’s Greg Chatterson.

Voters in Regina-Lewvan will be represented by someone new regardless of which party wins. Trent Fraser is hoping to secure the seat for the Conservatives, while Erin Weir is hoping for a win for the NDP. Louis Brown is fighting for votes to clinch the seat for the Liberals. The Green Party’s Tamela Friesen is on the ballot as is Wojciech Dolata for the Libertarian Party of Canada.

In Saskatoon, there are some new names also. Kevin Waugh will represent Saskatoon-Grasswood for the Conservatives, a seat that the Liberals’ Tracy Muggli was also hoping to secure. The NDP was running Scott Bell in that riding, while the Green Party had Mark Bigland-Pritchard.

Meanwhile, in Saskatoon-West, Sheri Benson will represent the riding for the NDP. Former city councillor Randy Donauer ran for the Conservatives, while the Liberals had Lisa Abbott representing them. Glendon Toews was on the ballot for the Green Party. Jim Pankiw ran as an independent.

Brad Trost won for the Conservatives in Saskatoon-University. He beat out the Liberals’ Cynthia Block, the NDP’s Claire Card and the Green Party’s Valerie Harvey as well as Eric Schalm of the Rhinoceros Party.

In Prince Albert, Randy Hoback has won it again. The Conservatives defeated the Liberals’ Gordon Kirkby and the NDP’s Lon Borgerson as well as the Green Party’s Byron Tenkink.

IN THE COUNTRY

Down in the southeast, the Conservatives have held the seat for Souris-Moose Mountain since 2004. But since Ed Komarnicki is not running in this election, there will be someone new taking on the seat. The Tories have Robert Gordon Kitchen running for the party while the Liberals are looking to Steven Bebbington to win it. The NDP has put its faith in Vicky O’Dell while Bob Deptuck has the backing of the Green Party.

In the riding next door – Cypress Hills – Grasslands – David Anderson has his seat for another term. He has been in the seat since 2000, holding it as a Conservative since 2003. Looking to take over the riding was the Liberals’ Marvin  Wiens, the NDP’s Trevor  Peterson and the Green Party’s William Caton.

Between those two ridings is Moose Jaw–Lake Centre–Lanigan where Tom Lukiwski, another Conservative, got another term. He was up against the Liberals’ Perry Juttla and the NDP’s Dustan Hlady. The Green Party is running Shawn Setyo while Robert Thomas is on the ballot for the Rhinoceros Party.

On the east side of the province, in Yorkton-Melville, Cathay Wagantall secured the seat for the Conservatives. It’s been a Tory seat for numerous terms. She competed against the Liberals’ Brooke Malinoski and the NDP’s Doug Ottenbreit.  The Green Party has put forward Elaine Hughes.

Next to Saskatoon is Carlton Trail – Eagle Creek. Kelly Block has won it for the Tories. She picked up more votes than the Liberals’ Alex Slusar and the NDP’s Glenn Wright as well as the Green Party’s Lynn Oliphant.

In Battlefords – Lloydminster, three candidates are battling it out. Gerry Ritz, who has served as an MP since 1997 again won his seat for the Conservatives, up against the Liberals’ Larry Ingram and the NDP’s Mikaela-Mari Tenkink.

In the riding that takes up half the province – Desnethé – Missinippi – Churchill River – there are four candidates ready. The Conservatives have had Rob Clarke in the seat since 2008. To keep it, he must defeat the Liberals’ Lawrence Joseph, the NDP’s Georgina Jolibois and the Green Party’s Warren Koch.