Ottawa, Canada, Jan 23, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Pro-life and pro-family groups are hopeful that the newly elected Conservative government of Stephen Harper will make good on its campaign promises.
Canadians elected a minority Conservative government yesterday, booting the Liberals out of office after being in power for 12 years in succession.
Hours after the victory was announced, Harper took to the podium in his Calgary riding and told Canadians that he understood the vote to mean that they wanted real change.
Te prime minister-designate said his party would work hard with other members of Parliament to follow through on what he promised Canadians: revamping the political system by enacting clear guidelines for accountability, a reduction of sales tax, childcare allowance to families and a free vote in Parliament on same-sex marriage.
The Conservatives were elected in 124 ridings and picked up 36 percent of the popular vote. The Liberals took 103 and received 30 percent of the popular vote. The Tories made significant gains in Ontario and Quebec, where they won about two dozen seats. In Quebec alone, they won 10 ridings; they had won no ridings in the previous election.
The Bloc Quebecois won in 51 ridings and the NDP was elected in 29. Quebec voted in one Independent.