to move up and down
Graphic: Cabinet hopefuls in the new government
With his coveted Conservative majority in hand as of Monday, one of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s first orders of business will be assembling a new Cabinet. He lost four senior ministers in the election. The new regional dynamics — huge gains in Ontario, several pick-ups in Atlantic Canada, and significant losses in Quebec — will factor into Mr. Harper’s decision-making process. He will have to juggle the expectations of loyal, longtime caucus members looking for promotions with his desire to appoint rookie MPs with stellar resumés. The National Post spoke with a trio of Conservative strategists and Ottawa insiders for a hint of who might be up for which position.
Infographics: How we voted, province-by-province
Elections in modern Canadian history in which turnout was below 65% have all come during the past decade. Monday’s relatively dismal (and still unofficial) figure of 61.4% — the third-lowest ever — continued the trend. The federal election of 2011 may have been a turning point in Canadian politics, but it failed to motivate nearly two in five eligible voters.
National Post front page for May 4, 2011
The Layton Bunch
Jack had better be nimble
PM can relax at last
President, aides had a view to the kill
Infographic: How Canada voted
Canadians elected a historic government to office on Monday, handing the Conservatives their long-coveted majority and promoting the NDP to Official Opposition status for the first time ever.
John Ivison: A good night for Harper
Stephen Harper’s long term strategy has been to break the Liberal brand and drive a stake through the heart of the separatist movement in Quebec. Having won the 41st general election and seen both the Liberals and the Bloc Québécois tumble to humiliating lows, it was a good night for Mr. Harper.
But when the majority government was announced in the Telus Convention Centre, it turned into a great and historic night. Mr. Harper said he was humbled by the decisiveness of the result. “Canadians have chosen hope, unity of purpose and a strong Canada,” he said. “We will be the government of all Canadians, including those who did not vote for us.”
Photo: Conservative leader Stephen Harper takes the stage at the Conservative Party campaign headquarters in Calgary late Monday evening, May 2, 2011. (Gavin Young/Calgary Herald)
Layton takes historic second-place finish to official Opposition status
Jack Layton is the leader of the official Opposition after a stunning NDP performance at the polls on Monday that, by early Tuesday morning, had the party leading or in control of 104 seats.
“You’re amazing,” Mr. Layton told the cheering crowd at the riding of his victorious wife, Olivia Chow, who won Tinity-Spadina for the party.
“Let me tell you this,” Mr. Layton said as his supporters screamed “NDP, NDP,” “Spring is here my friends, and a new chapter begins.”
Elizabeth May becomes Canada’s first elected Green MP
Green Party leader Elizabeth May has been elected as Canada’s first Green MP. Just after 9 pm, Conservative incumbent Gary Lunn called Ms. May to congratulate her on her victory. It’s a landmark moment for the 27-year-old party, who since 1984 has run 9 unsuccessful federal elections.
“I will never shrink from bringing truth to power nor will I embrace the politics of spin,” she told supporters in her acceptance speech.
“What we do now is what will prove the virtues and the benefits of what we’ve done,” said Ms. May. “So far our work in just beginning.” (Photo: Lyle Staddord/Times Colonist)
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff waves next to his wife Zsuszanna Zsohar on stage while speaking to supporters. (Mike Cassese/Reuters)
Conservatives set to form majority, NDP poised to form opposition
The NDP appeared certain to form the country’s official opposition for the first time in the party’s history, coming in second to the reigning Conservatives, whose long-running quest to attain a majority government got off to a strong start in Atlantic Canada and elsewhere in Monday’s federal election.
With all 308 ridings reporting, the Tories were leading or had won 167 seats — well past the 155 needed for a majority — and the NDP were leading or had won 104 ridings. A decimated Liberal Party was on track to win just 33 seats, and the Bloc were poised to dwindle to just three.
Bloc Quebecois supporter Richard Bordeau watches election results at their federal election night headquarters in Montreal, May 2, 2011. (Christinne Muschi/Reuters)
Conservatives set to form majority, NDP poised to form opposition
The NDP appeared certain to form the country’s official opposition for the first time in the party’s history, coming in second to the reigning Conservatives, whose long-running quest to attain a majority government got off to a strong start in Atlantic Canada and elsewhere in Monday’s federal election.
With 305 of 308 ridings reporting, the Tories were leading or had won 165 seats — well past the 154 needed for a majority — and the NDP were leading or had won 105 ridings. The Liberals were on track to be reduced to just 30 seats, and the Bloc were poised to glean just four.
Conservatives set to form majority, NDP poised to form opposition
The NDP appeared certain to form the country’s official opposition for the first time in the party’s history, coming in second to the reigning Conservatives, whose long-running quest to attain a majority government got off to a strong start in Atlantic Canada and elsewhere in Monday’s federal election.
With 305 of 308 ridings reporting, the Tories were leading or had won 165 seats — well past the 154 needed for a majority — and the NDP were leading or had won 105 ridings. The Liberals were on track to be reduced to just 30 seats, and the Bloc were poised to glean just four.
Photo: Conservative party supporters cheer at the election night headquarters of Conservative leader and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Calgary, Alberta, May 2, 2011. (Chris Wattie/Reuters)
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and his wife Zsuzsanna Zsohar watch the federal election results in a downtown hotel room in Toronto, May 2, 2011. (REUTERS/Mike Cassese)
Live Now: Election 2011 pre-game show
Join the National Post team for our live coverage as results come in for the 2011 Federal Election. Until 10:00 p.m. ET we’ll preview the key ridings and candidates you’ll want to watch. Polls close across the country at 10:00 p.m. ET and we’ll have all the breaking results and instant analysis.
Calgary based clowns Saucy McCuddle (Fif Fernandes) and her husband Chuddie McFuddle (Hamish Boyd) dressed up to cast their votes in the federal election on May 2, 2011 at the Glendale Community Hall. The pair wanted to make a statement about their disappointment with unfulfilled promises by politicians to end child poverty. (Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald)
Live Now: Election 2011 pre-game show
Join the National Post team for our live coverage as results come in for the 2011 Federal Election. Until 10:00 p.m. ET we’ll preview the key ridings and candidates you’ll want to watch. Polls close across the country at 10:00 p.m. ET and we’ll have all the breaking results and instant analysis.
