OTTAWA — Liberal leader Mark Carney has led his party to victory, although its too soon to say whether they will win a majority.
The Liberal Party has secured a fourth straight mandate, elected in 140 ridings and leading in 24 more, for a total of 164 seats as of 1 a.m. Tuesday.
Less than one per cent ahead of the Conservatives in the popular vote and 11 seats ahead, it's not yet clear whether the Liberals will win the 172 seats needed to form a majority government.
Nevertheless, it's a political comeback that didn’t seem possible just a few months ago, when Justin Trudeau was at the helm of an unpopular minority government and the Conservatives and their leader Pierre Poilievre were dominating public opinion polls.
The national divide is reflected in Northwestern Ontario, where Liberal cabinet minister Patty Hajdu has held on to her seat in Thunder Bay-Superior North with a comfortable lead and and Conservative incumbent Eric Melillo has won easily in Kenora-Kiiwetiinoong. The two parties were in a close race for the Thunder Bay-Rainy River seat but Liberal incumbent Marcus Powlowski ultimately held on to his seat with a 5 per cent lead over Conservative challenger Brendan Hyatt.
Carney has won his own seat in the Ottawa-area riding of Nepean. It's the first time the professional banker has been elected to public office.
Meanwhile Poilievre, who has held office for more than 20 years, has yet to secure his seat in the neighbouring riding of Carleton.
The election was called on Sunday, March 23. At dissolution, the Liberals had 153 of 338 seats in the House of Commons – the most of any party, but not a majority. With five seats added in boundary redistribution, this election was for 343 seats nationwide.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
