Con – 143; Lib – 76; NDP – 37; BQ – 50; Ind – 2.
Well, it turns out that we get the minority that most people expected. 140 seats seemed to be the number most people expected, the CPC finished slightly above that at 143 seats. It is somewhat bitter sweet because had Conservative support in Quebec held at pre-writ numbers they would’ve won a majority with relative ease.
I think this minority will last at least two years. The Liberals are broke, and are in need of serious renewal; renewal that didn’t happen under Stephane Dion. I think this renewed mandate for the Conservatives will help them deal with the issues that face the country. The global economy is facing some turbulent times, but we’re actually well positioned to deal with it. Its not a talking point, or a cliche. Our fundamentals are strong with low unemployment, low inflation, and decreasing national debt.
Overall, I’m happy with the results. A twenty seat increase is nothing to sneeze at. Congratulations to Stephen Harper and the Conservatives for the victory, and also to the other leaders and their respective parties for subjecting themselves to the scrutiny that comes from vying for public office. Not many people are willing to do it, kudos to those who did, but still came up short.
