Tories clinch majority in Canada polls

Toronto, May 3 (ANI): Canadians have handed the Conservative Party its long-coveted majority after a game-changing election that boosted the New Democrats to the Official Opposition, decimated the Bloc Qu?b?cois and humbled the Liberals.

The night belonged to Stephen Harper, who put an end to five years of Tory minority government and becomes just the third Conservative leader since Confederation to win triple victories, the Globe and Mail reports.

The electorate has given Harper what he has campaigned for since 2004, and his opponents have long feared, a secure majority that gives him a freer hand to implement the Conservative agenda.

NDP Leader Jack Layton made history, too, displacing the Liberals to become the Official Opposition after seizing the majority of seats in Quebec from the separatist Bloc Qu?b?cois.

The Conservatives were leading or elected in 166 seats, up from 143 at dissolution and comfortably ahead of the bare 155 needed to form a majority government.

The NDP was leading or elected in 103 seats, more than double its best historical tally. The Liberals were on track to be reduced to the lowest seat count in their history, leading or elected in just 35 seats. (ANI)