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Canada election: Harper, Mulcair and Trudeau in tight race Canada election: Harper, Mulcair and Trudeau in tight race
(35 minutes later)
Canadians are voting in parliamentary elections that could bring the first new leader in nearly 10 years. Canadians have voted in parliamentary elections that could bring the first new leader in nearly 10 years.
Incumbent Conservative PM Stephen Harper is fighting for a rare fourth term but the frontrunner is Liberal leader Justin Trudeau.Incumbent Conservative PM Stephen Harper is fighting for a rare fourth term but the frontrunner is Liberal leader Justin Trudeau.
Early counts in the eastern provinces show the Liberals ahead in 31 of 32 seats. Early counts in the eastern provinces show the Liberals ahead in all 32 seat races there.
"These are not the results we were hoping for," said former Conservative Justice Minister Peter MacKay. Mr Trudeau is now poised to form the next government, Canada's CBC and CTV networks predict.
They say it is still unclear whether it will be a majority or minority government.
As the first results from Atlantic Canada began pouring in, former Conservative Justice Minister Peter MacKay said: "A sea of change here. We are used to high tides in Atlantic Canada. This is not what we hoped for."
The Liberal Party was always expected to perform well in the region.
The Conservatives are now in danger of losing all 13 seats they held in Atlantic Canada in 2011.
A third party, the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP), could also play a decisive role in whether Mr Harper and his Conservatives lose power.A third party, the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP), could also play a decisive role in whether Mr Harper and his Conservatives lose power.
Voting hours are staggered across the country and polls opened in Newfoundland at 0830 local time (1100 GMT). Polls will close in the west of the country at 19:00 (02:00 GMT). Late surge
Voting hours were staggered across the country and polls opened in Newfoundland at 08:30 local time (11:00 GMT). Polls closed in the west of the country at 19:00 (02:00 GMT).
It is one of the longest and possibly closest election campaigns in Canada's history, with leaders criss-crossing the country to try to sway undecided voters.It is one of the longest and possibly closest election campaigns in Canada's history, with leaders criss-crossing the country to try to sway undecided voters.
First results are coming now from Atlantic Canada, where the voting has already ended. To form a majority government, a party needs 170 seats in the 338-member parliament.
The Liberal Party - who was expected to perform well there - has taken a commanding lead, according to the results.
Canada votes: live updatesCanada votes: live updates
Mr Harper, 56, is selling himself as the steady hand who can steer Canada's troubled economy back on track.Mr Harper, 56, is selling himself as the steady hand who can steer Canada's troubled economy back on track.
His campaign has run TV advertisements saying that Liberal leader Mr Trudeau, 43, is "just not ready" to take office.His campaign has run TV advertisements saying that Liberal leader Mr Trudeau, 43, is "just not ready" to take office.
"Every single vote for a Conservative candidate is a vote to protect our economy against Liberal and NDP deficits and taxes," Mr Harper told supporters in Regina, Saskatchewan, on Sunday."Every single vote for a Conservative candidate is a vote to protect our economy against Liberal and NDP deficits and taxes," Mr Harper told supporters in Regina, Saskatchewan, on Sunday.
As polls opened, he tweeted that a vote for the Conservatives would "protect Canadian jobs and our economy".As polls opened, he tweeted that a vote for the Conservatives would "protect Canadian jobs and our economy".
Mr Trudeau started the race in third place but the Liberals took the lead in opinion polls in a late surge.Mr Trudeau started the race in third place but the Liberals took the lead in opinion polls in a late surge.
Stephen Harper's final stand?Stephen Harper's final stand?
At the scene - Rajini Vaidyanathan, BBC News, TorontoAt the scene - Rajini Vaidyanathan, BBC News, Toronto
The Toronto Blue Jays have their first home game in the playoffs for baseball's American League Championship series, and a sea of fans wearing blue T-shirts are filling downtown Toronto ahead of the big game.The Toronto Blue Jays have their first home game in the playoffs for baseball's American League Championship series, and a sea of fans wearing blue T-shirts are filling downtown Toronto ahead of the big game.
But will blue be the dominant colour for the other big result of the night? After nearly a decade in power, the Conservatives (the blue team in this political race) are fighting to stay in office.But will blue be the dominant colour for the other big result of the night? After nearly a decade in power, the Conservatives (the blue team in this political race) are fighting to stay in office.
The Liberals (red) led by the photogenic Justin Trudeau have been ahead in the polls. If they win it'll be a stunning victory for a party which began this race in third.The Liberals (red) led by the photogenic Justin Trudeau have been ahead in the polls. If they win it'll be a stunning victory for a party which began this race in third.
If Mr Harper hangs on, he'll pull off an equally impressive feat in becoming the first prime minister to win a fourth term in more than a century. Either way this election will be historic. Will Canadians plump for continuity or change?If Mr Harper hangs on, he'll pull off an equally impressive feat in becoming the first prime minister to win a fourth term in more than a century. Either way this election will be historic. Will Canadians plump for continuity or change?
Speaking in Calgary, Alberta, on Sunday, Mr Trudeau urged voters to "come together as a country".Speaking in Calgary, Alberta, on Sunday, Mr Trudeau urged voters to "come together as a country".
Mr Trudeau's father, Pierre, is considered the father of modern Canada.Mr Trudeau's father, Pierre, is considered the father of modern Canada.
NDP leader Tom Mulcair, 60, is hoping to build on his party's second-place finish in the 2011 elections.NDP leader Tom Mulcair, 60, is hoping to build on his party's second-place finish in the 2011 elections.
However, support for the NDP appeared to have fallen in recent weeks.However, support for the NDP appeared to have fallen in recent weeks.
At a stop in Toronto, Mr Mulcair hit out at the Liberal leader, saying: "They may try to fool you by giving the old car a fresh coat of paint. But as we've seen, the Liberal Party is just as rusted-out underneath as it was when Canadians kicked them out of office for corruption the last time."At a stop in Toronto, Mr Mulcair hit out at the Liberal leader, saying: "They may try to fool you by giving the old car a fresh coat of paint. But as we've seen, the Liberal Party is just as rusted-out underneath as it was when Canadians kicked them out of office for corruption the last time."