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| Canada heads to the polls in closest election in country's history – live | Canada heads to the polls in closest election in country's history – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 7.37pm BST19:37 | |
| CBC has the poll closing times by region. | |
| Know when your local polls close! @CBCNews has this handy map & more: https://t.co/bJ9Kot4KQJ #elxn42 pic.twitter.com/rOYFXLj4nB | |
| Updated at 7.38pm BST | |
| 7.26pm BST19:26 | |
| John Barber | |
| Karma gets complicated when a federal election collides with a crucial playoff game for the Toronto Blue Jays. | |
| The baseball team recently fell two games behind the Kansas City Royals in the American League championship series and will be fighting for their lives in a must-watch game as Canadians line up to vote this evening. | |
| Millions of win-starved Canadian baseball fans are already annoyed with politics, having not failed to notice that their only major-league baseball team has lost every time one of the three federal leaders attended a game this fall in search of feel-good screen time. A repeat hex tonight would see the Jays falling three games behind the Royals in the best-of-seven series, effectively ending their hopes of contending for their first World Series title since 1993. | |
| Others are more confident, noting that the current election is the first to be held in October since that same year, 1993, when attention was likewise divided and the Jays went on to win it all. | |
| For their part, the Blue Jays really want Canadians to vote before tuning in to watch the game. | |
| Hey, Canada: @MStrooo6 wants you to remember to vote today (and then you can watch the @BlueJays). http://t.co/Ys0C1pnZpL | |
| 7.16pm BST19:16 | |
| Looking for a lunchtime read? Let me recommend Stephen Harper: Master manipulator by journalist Nick Davies. | |
| The article revisits the scandals that have dogged Harper over the course of 11 years in power and three federal election. | |
| In Canada, some of the prime minister’s men and women have been accused not simply of cheating to win elections but of conspiring to jam the machinery of democratic government. | |
| Some of these allegations have been proved. In the 11 years since he became leader of the country’s Conservatives, the party has been fined for breaking electoral rules, and various members of Team Harper have been caught misleading parliament, gagging civil servants, subverting parliamentary committees, gagging scientists, harassing the supreme court, gagging diplomats, lying to the public, concealing evidence of potential crime, spying on opponents, bullying and smearing. Harper personally has earned himself the rare rebuke of being found to be in contempt of his parliament. | |
| Updated at 7.17pm BST | |
| 7.08pm BST19:08 | |
| After casting his ballot, Stephen Harper told reporters: “It’s a nice blue sky. That’s how I’m feeling.” | |
| But it’s not all blue skies and rainbows for the prime minister looking to clench a fourth election on Monday, say the polls. | |
| Harper is struggling to hold on to power in the face of a challenge by Justin Trudeau’s Liberal party. Read more here. | |
| 7.00pm BST19:00 | 7.00pm BST19:00 |
| Fancy that photograph of liberal leader Justin Trudeau making a cheerleader pyramid with his campaign staff after arriving Montreal to vote on Monday? Here’s the video. | Fancy that photograph of liberal leader Justin Trudeau making a cheerleader pyramid with his campaign staff after arriving Montreal to vote on Monday? Here’s the video. |
| 6.47pm BST18:47 | 6.47pm BST18:47 |
| Update: John Oliver will not go to jail or be fined C$5,000 for telling Canadians not to elect Stephen Harper. | Update: John Oliver will not go to jail or be fined C$5,000 for telling Canadians not to elect Stephen Harper. |
| According to the Canadian Press, the Canadian elections authorities said on Monday that the law Oliver dared to defy does not actually bar foreigners from expressing an opinion. | According to the Canadian Press, the Canadian elections authorities said on Monday that the law Oliver dared to defy does not actually bar foreigners from expressing an opinion. |
| The expression of personal political views by Canadians or non-Canadians as to which parties or candidates they support is not an offence under the Act,” said Elections Canada spokesman John Enright. “This also applies to Mr Oliver.” | The expression of personal political views by Canadians or non-Canadians as to which parties or candidates they support is not an offence under the Act,” said Elections Canada spokesman John Enright. “This also applies to Mr Oliver.” |
| Enright also told the news agency that the provision Oliver mentions refers to people who “induce” Canadians: “To induce there must be a tangible thing offered. A personal view is not inducement.” | Enright also told the news agency that the provision Oliver mentions refers to people who “induce” Canadians: “To induce there must be a tangible thing offered. A personal view is not inducement.” |
| Updated at 6.51pm BST | Updated at 6.51pm BST |
| 6.29pm BST18:29 | 6.29pm BST18:29 |
| A Calgary woman penned an open letter to prime minister Stephen Harper to say explain why she will not vote for the Conservative party on Monday, even though she says her family is the “picture” of the Canadians who benefit most under his economic policies. | A Calgary woman penned an open letter to prime minister Stephen Harper to say explain why she will not vote for the Conservative party on Monday, even though she says her family is the “picture” of the Canadians who benefit most under his economic policies. |
| In the letter, posted on Facebook on 10 October, Mary Cleaver writes: | In the letter, posted on Facebook on 10 October, Mary Cleaver writes: |
| You’ve underestimated us. On October 19, we’re not voting for our bank balance. We’re voting for change because we want the caring Canada of our youth back. The Canada that supported our single mothers that gave us the opportunity to succeed in the first place. | You’ve underestimated us. On October 19, we’re not voting for our bank balance. We’re voting for change because we want the caring Canada of our youth back. The Canada that supported our single mothers that gave us the opportunity to succeed in the first place. |
| Updated at 6.32pm BST | Updated at 6.32pm BST |
| 6.13pm BST18:13 | 6.13pm BST18:13 |
| Jessica Murphy | Jessica Murphy |
| The election as told through campaign ads | The election as told through campaign ads |
| Campaign ads are a key part of any election and Canada’s #elxn42, as it has come to be known on Twitter, is no exception. | Campaign ads are a key part of any election and Canada’s #elxn42, as it has come to be known on Twitter, is no exception. |
| Ads showcase the key message a party wants the electorate to hear and are also a chance for campaign teams to flex creative muscles. | Ads showcase the key message a party wants the electorate to hear and are also a chance for campaign teams to flex creative muscles. |
| The Conservatives have built a reputation on taking down successive Liberal leaders with cleverly crafted attack ads with taglines that stick. | The Conservatives have built a reputation on taking down successive Liberal leaders with cleverly crafted attack ads with taglines that stick. |
| For former leader Michael Ignatieff, who spent years outside of Canada, it was ‘he didn’t come back for you.’ | For former leader Michael Ignatieff, who spent years outside of Canada, it was ‘he didn’t come back for you.’ |
| Soon after Liberal leader Justin Trudeau won his leadership bid, Canadian television aired ads with the tagline ‘just not ready.’ The attacks may not stick this time around, but most Canadians likely have this particular ad memorized. This Liberal response ad was considered bad tactics because Trudeau is repeating the Conservative attack line - usually a no-no for candidates. But this ad broke with convention and is seen as a success. Trailing in the polls, the New Democrats grasped onto the resignation of the Liberal volunteer campaign co-chair in the final week of the race over an email he sent to energy infrastructure TransCanada explaining how to lobby the next government. His actions don’t appear to have broken any rules but it was a definite political blunder. The New Democrat war room was quick to pivot on the controversy. Party ads weren’t the only ones to stand out. An independent candidate from British Columbia made headlines with this wild video. | Soon after Liberal leader Justin Trudeau won his leadership bid, Canadian television aired ads with the tagline ‘just not ready.’ The attacks may not stick this time around, but most Canadians likely have this particular ad memorized. This Liberal response ad was considered bad tactics because Trudeau is repeating the Conservative attack line - usually a no-no for candidates. But this ad broke with convention and is seen as a success. Trailing in the polls, the New Democrats grasped onto the resignation of the Liberal volunteer campaign co-chair in the final week of the race over an email he sent to energy infrastructure TransCanada explaining how to lobby the next government. His actions don’t appear to have broken any rules but it was a definite political blunder. The New Democrat war room was quick to pivot on the controversy. Party ads weren’t the only ones to stand out. An independent candidate from British Columbia made headlines with this wild video. |
| And during his nomination fight Liberal candidate Ron Planche released a pitch that has been dubbed by some the worst campaign ad in history. | And during his nomination fight Liberal candidate Ron Planche released a pitch that has been dubbed by some the worst campaign ad in history. |
| The separatist Bloc Quebecois – seeking electoral salvation after getting nearly wiped out in the largely french-speaking province of Quebec in the 2011 election – were first to raise the issue of niqabs in Canada’s election. | The separatist Bloc Quebecois – seeking electoral salvation after getting nearly wiped out in the largely french-speaking province of Quebec in the 2011 election – were first to raise the issue of niqabs in Canada’s election. |
| This ad is in French, but the visuals tell most of the story. Called “A drop too far,” it warns Quebecers that NDP leader Tom Mulcair isn’t onside with the province’s voters over either the niqab or the proposed Energy East pipeline, which would carry Alberta oil through Quebec. | This ad is in French, but the visuals tell most of the story. Called “A drop too far,” it warns Quebecers that NDP leader Tom Mulcair isn’t onside with the province’s voters over either the niqab or the proposed Energy East pipeline, which would carry Alberta oil through Quebec. |
| Updated at 6.15pm BST | Updated at 6.15pm BST |
| 5.57pm BST17:57 | 5.57pm BST17:57 |
| The woman at the center of the ‘niqab issue’ | The woman at the center of the ‘niqab issue’ |
| Earlier this year, Zunera Ishaq told the Guardian that her choice to wear a veil in public is a “trivial and minor issue”. | Earlier this year, Zunera Ishaq told the Guardian that her choice to wear a veil in public is a “trivial and minor issue”. |
| But for 35 million Canadians, Ishaq’s insistence that she has a right to conceal her face has become a central issue in the ongoing election campaign, giving a late boost to a Conservative government that had previously seemed doomed to defeat. | But for 35 million Canadians, Ishaq’s insistence that she has a right to conceal her face has become a central issue in the ongoing election campaign, giving a late boost to a Conservative government that had previously seemed doomed to defeat. |
| The debate over whether women should be allowed to wear the full face veil at a citizenship ceremony became a wedge issue for both the Bloc Quebecois and for the Conservatives. | The debate over whether women should be allowed to wear the full face veil at a citizenship ceremony became a wedge issue for both the Bloc Quebecois and for the Conservatives. |
| The New Democrats, whose power base is in the province, saw their support fall in part over their disagreement with both the Conservatives and the Bloc over the niqab, which they felt a woman should be allowed to wear. | The New Democrats, whose power base is in the province, saw their support fall in part over their disagreement with both the Conservatives and the Bloc over the niqab, which they felt a woman should be allowed to wear. |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| Updated at 6.12pm BST | Updated at 6.12pm BST |
| 5.54pm BST17:54 | 5.54pm BST17:54 |
| John Barber | John Barber |
| John Barber in Toronto sends this dispatch: | John Barber in Toronto sends this dispatch: |
| The Canadian and international media spent a lot of time during this long campaign talking about the rights of Muslim women and the limits of multiculturalism – the so-called “niqab issue”, spurred by the Conservative government’s determination to make one Muslim immigrant from Pakistan remove her face veil before swearing allegiance to her new country. Judging by spilled ink alone, a person would be forgiven for seeing this as the “niqab election”. | The Canadian and international media spent a lot of time during this long campaign talking about the rights of Muslim women and the limits of multiculturalism – the so-called “niqab issue”, spurred by the Conservative government’s determination to make one Muslim immigrant from Pakistan remove her face veil before swearing allegiance to her new country. Judging by spilled ink alone, a person would be forgiven for seeing this as the “niqab election”. |
| But despite the fervor, the issue appears to have had little if any impact on actual voting intentions. Broad trends charted by hundreds of polls show that Stephen Harper’s Conservatives began and ended the campaign with the same 30 per cent support – neither rising nor falling as a result of their provocative stance against immigrant Zunera Ishaq. Outside a few ridings in rural Quebec, the niqab issue looks to be dead on arrival at election day. | But despite the fervor, the issue appears to have had little if any impact on actual voting intentions. Broad trends charted by hundreds of polls show that Stephen Harper’s Conservatives began and ended the campaign with the same 30 per cent support – neither rising nor falling as a result of their provocative stance against immigrant Zunera Ishaq. Outside a few ridings in rural Quebec, the niqab issue looks to be dead on arrival at election day. |
| Follow John on twitter @annegonian | Follow John on twitter @annegonian |
| Updated at 6.38pm BST | Updated at 6.38pm BST |
| 5.41pm BST17:41 | 5.41pm BST17:41 |
| Maclean’s, Canada’s national weekly news magazine, has pinpointed three make or break moments that defined Canada’s marathon election campaign. | Maclean’s, Canada’s national weekly news magazine, has pinpointed three make or break moments that defined Canada’s marathon election campaign. |
| Deciding on what constitutes the turning point is something of a parlour game for political watchers, and it can be debated endlessly. Was it the moment whenJustin Trudeau defended his father during the Munk debate on foreign policy, as the Ottawa Citizen’s Mark Kennedy told me recently? Was it Tom Mulcair’s stance on the divisive niqab debate, which put him off side with much of his key vote in Quebec but was hailed as an act of integrity by his supporters? Was it Stephen Harper’s launching of the barbaric cultural practice’s hot line, a paranoid stunt that solidified his turn toward the dark politics of division or was it his income-splitting promise, which could drive middle-class voters to him? | Deciding on what constitutes the turning point is something of a parlour game for political watchers, and it can be debated endlessly. Was it the moment whenJustin Trudeau defended his father during the Munk debate on foreign policy, as the Ottawa Citizen’s Mark Kennedy told me recently? Was it Tom Mulcair’s stance on the divisive niqab debate, which put him off side with much of his key vote in Quebec but was hailed as an act of integrity by his supporters? Was it Stephen Harper’s launching of the barbaric cultural practice’s hot line, a paranoid stunt that solidified his turn toward the dark politics of division or was it his income-splitting promise, which could drive middle-class voters to him? |
| Read about the turning points here. | Read about the turning points here. |
| 5.34pm BST17:34 | 5.34pm BST17:34 |
| Guess who they voted for? | Guess who they voted for? |
| 5.23pm BST17:23 | 5.23pm BST17:23 |
| Hey Americans. Yeah, we’re talking to you. | Hey Americans. Yeah, we’re talking to you. |
| If you’ve been too wrapped up the Donald Trump show to notice the electoral drama unfolding just north of the border, my colleague Nicky Woolf has a nice little piece on why Americans should care about Canada’s nail-bitingly close election. This is especially important for those among you who plan to move there should the US presidential election not go as you hoped. | If you’ve been too wrapped up the Donald Trump show to notice the electoral drama unfolding just north of the border, my colleague Nicky Woolf has a nice little piece on why Americans should care about Canada’s nail-bitingly close election. This is especially important for those among you who plan to move there should the US presidential election not go as you hoped. |
| With Liberal leader Justin Trudeau’s party predicted to win the most seats – if not an outright majority – experts say there is a chance of a thaw in relations between the two countries in time to facilitate real action on issues like climate change. | With Liberal leader Justin Trudeau’s party predicted to win the most seats – if not an outright majority – experts say there is a chance of a thaw in relations between the two countries in time to facilitate real action on issues like climate change. |
| Of course, the US and Canada are deeply intertwined economically. Each is the other’s largest trading partner: trade between the two countries in 2012 – the most recent year for which data is available from the Office of the United States Trade Representative – totalled $707bn. | Of course, the US and Canada are deeply intertwined economically. Each is the other’s largest trading partner: trade between the two countries in 2012 – the most recent year for which data is available from the Office of the United States Trade Representative – totalled $707bn. |
| Canada is also the world’s largest national importer of US goods, spending $51bn a year on US-made cars alone. It is also the second-largest importer of US agricultural products ... | Canada is also the world’s largest national importer of US goods, spending $51bn a year on US-made cars alone. It is also the second-largest importer of US agricultural products ... |
| “For our American cousins, the relationship is consequential. For us, it has often been definitional,” Trudeau said earlier this year. | “For our American cousins, the relationship is consequential. For us, it has often been definitional,” Trudeau said earlier this year. |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| Updated at 6.55pm BST | Updated at 6.55pm BST |
| 5.05pm BST17:05 | 5.05pm BST17:05 |
| While millions of Canadians are heading to the polls today, roughly 1.4 million won’t have a say. | While millions of Canadians are heading to the polls today, roughly 1.4 million won’t have a say. |
| Under a law upheld by an appeals court last July, Canadians who are old enough to vote and have lived abroad for five or more years cannot vote are barred from voting in Canadian federal elections. | Under a law upheld by an appeals court last July, Canadians who are old enough to vote and have lived abroad for five or more years cannot vote are barred from voting in Canadian federal elections. |
| The Guardian’s Canadian expats, Ruth Spencer & Laurence Mathieu-Léger, spoke to disenfranchised Canadians living in New York City at a demonstration against prime minister Stephen Harper in Brooklyn last week. | The Guardian’s Canadian expats, Ruth Spencer & Laurence Mathieu-Léger, spoke to disenfranchised Canadians living in New York City at a demonstration against prime minister Stephen Harper in Brooklyn last week. |
| People like me have no other citizenship. I have no right to vote anywhere. – Gillian Frank | People like me have no other citizenship. I have no right to vote anywhere. – Gillian Frank |
| Updated at 5.07pm BST | Updated at 5.07pm BST |
| 4.51pm BST16:51 | 4.51pm BST16:51 |
| When elections roll around, editorial boards like to have their say. | When elections roll around, editorial boards like to have their say. |
| BuzzFeed Canada’s has spoken. With cheeky puns and firm judgement, the website has endorsed Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista’s “damn fine booty”. | BuzzFeed Canada’s has spoken. With cheeky puns and firm judgement, the website has endorsed Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista’s “damn fine booty”. |
| The endorsement is apparently catching fire. | The endorsement is apparently catching fire. |
| Updated at 4.55pm BST | Updated at 4.55pm BST |
| 4.34pm BST16:34 | 4.34pm BST16:34 |
| Who’s Stephen Harper? What are Canada’s political parties? What’s a riding? Who’s in the lead? Here’s everything you need to know to understand today’s election, thank to my colleague Alberto Nardelli. | Who’s Stephen Harper? What are Canada’s political parties? What’s a riding? Who’s in the lead? Here’s everything you need to know to understand today’s election, thank to my colleague Alberto Nardelli. |
| 4.23pm BST16:23 | 4.23pm BST16:23 |
| While non-citizens dare not try to influence the Canadian election, these front pages can. | While non-citizens dare not try to influence the Canadian election, these front pages can. |
| In a final push ahead of Monday’s election, The Ottawa Citizen, The Vancouver Sun, Fort McMurray Today, among other newspapers, replaced their front pages with near-full-page spreads endorsing the Tories, The Huffington Post reports. | In a final push ahead of Monday’s election, The Ottawa Citizen, The Vancouver Sun, Fort McMurray Today, among other newspapers, replaced their front pages with near-full-page spreads endorsing the Tories, The Huffington Post reports. |
| The spreads said either “Voting Liberal will cost you,” or “Voting NDP or Liberal will cost you,” followed by explanations of how those parties’ platforms would affect voters. There was also a ballot-style checkbox marking a “Conservative” vote. | The spreads said either “Voting Liberal will cost you,” or “Voting NDP or Liberal will cost you,” followed by explanations of how those parties’ platforms would affect voters. There was also a ballot-style checkbox marking a “Conservative” vote. |
| Spare a thought for the journalists who work diligently for papers that sold a front page today. Not their choice. pic.twitter.com/Dx2ZN7gGGa | Spare a thought for the journalists who work diligently for papers that sold a front page today. Not their choice. pic.twitter.com/Dx2ZN7gGGa |
| Updated at 4.37pm BST | Updated at 4.37pm BST |
| 4.14pm BST16:14 | 4.14pm BST16:14 |
| Last Week Tonight host John Oliver wants the Canadian people to vote prime minister Stephen Harper out of office. But saying so could land him behind bars. | Last Week Tonight host John Oliver wants the Canadian people to vote prime minister Stephen Harper out of office. But saying so could land him behind bars. |
| Under Canadian election law, it’s illegal for non-citizens to try to influence a Canadian election – a violation punishable by a $5,000 fine or jail time, or both. But Oliver said he wasn’t scared of spending six months in a Canadian jail. | Under Canadian election law, it’s illegal for non-citizens to try to influence a Canadian election – a violation punishable by a $5,000 fine or jail time, or both. But Oliver said he wasn’t scared of spending six months in a Canadian jail. |
| “If telling you not to vote for Stephen Harper is going to cost me $5,000, I’m going to get my money’s worth and do it in the most Canadian way possible,” Oliver promised. | “If telling you not to vote for Stephen Harper is going to cost me $5,000, I’m going to get my money’s worth and do it in the most Canadian way possible,” Oliver promised. |
| On stage, Oliver was joined by a beaver wearing a maple leaf shirt playing Sweet Caroline on a keyboard, a moose getting a colonoscopy under Canada’s “fantastic single-payer health care system”, and native son Mike Myers dressed as a mountie driving a snowplow, who declares: “Don’t vote for Stephen Harper.” | On stage, Oliver was joined by a beaver wearing a maple leaf shirt playing Sweet Caroline on a keyboard, a moose getting a colonoscopy under Canada’s “fantastic single-payer health care system”, and native son Mike Myers dressed as a mountie driving a snowplow, who declares: “Don’t vote for Stephen Harper.” |
| The scene ends with Oliver declaring that Stephen Harper doesn’t care about black people, a reference to the moment 10 years ago when Kanye West, standing next to Myers, said on national TV: “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” during a benefit concert for Katrina victims. | The scene ends with Oliver declaring that Stephen Harper doesn’t care about black people, a reference to the moment 10 years ago when Kanye West, standing next to Myers, said on national TV: “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” during a benefit concert for Katrina victims. |
| “Oh God, not again,” Myers groans. | “Oh God, not again,” Myers groans. |
| Oliver corrects himself. “Stephen Harper doesn’t care about Muslim people.” | Oliver corrects himself. “Stephen Harper doesn’t care about Muslim people.” |
| Myers: “Totally fair.” Oliver flings Canadian dollars at the screen and they all dance. Oh Canada. | Myers: “Totally fair.” Oliver flings Canadian dollars at the screen and they all dance. Oh Canada. |
| Updated at 6.49pm BST | Updated at 6.49pm BST |
| 3.35pm BST15:35 | 3.35pm BST15:35 |
| Canadians head to the polls today for what seems set to be the closest election in the country’s history following a marathon campaign cycle. | Canadians head to the polls today for what seems set to be the closest election in the country’s history following a marathon campaign cycle. |
| Just in the last three weeks the centre-left Liberal party, led by Justin Trudeau – son of famous former prime minister Pierre Trudeau – has surged into the lead, while the one-time pole position-holders, the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Tom Mulcair, have dropped to third place. | Just in the last three weeks the centre-left Liberal party, led by Justin Trudeau – son of famous former prime minister Pierre Trudeau – has surged into the lead, while the one-time pole position-holders, the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Tom Mulcair, have dropped to third place. |
| Barring a surprise in today’s result - and after the polling upset in the UK election earlier this year introduced the world to the concept of “shy Tories”, one is not entirely out of the question – Trudeau looks set to oust incumbent prime minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative party from power. | Barring a surprise in today’s result - and after the polling upset in the UK election earlier this year introduced the world to the concept of “shy Tories”, one is not entirely out of the question – Trudeau looks set to oust incumbent prime minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative party from power. |
| The Liberals may be leading, but current projections suggest that they will not be able to win the 170 seats required for a parliamentary majority on their own. There have been hints throughout the campaign that the NDP may be willing to enter into a coalition with the Liberals, but no outright promises; and a minority government, where legislation is negotiated on an ad hoc basis, is also a potential outcome. | The Liberals may be leading, but current projections suggest that they will not be able to win the 170 seats required for a parliamentary majority on their own. There have been hints throughout the campaign that the NDP may be willing to enter into a coalition with the Liberals, but no outright promises; and a minority government, where legislation is negotiated on an ad hoc basis, is also a potential outcome. |
| Places to watch: ridings – electoral districts – in downtown Toronto and Vancouver, many of which are Liberal/NDP marginal seats, will indicate how united the support is behind the centrist Liberals, and act as good bellwethers. In the greater Toronto area, suburban seats like Ajax, where the conservatives wiped the Liberals out in 2011, will show how much support Harper has lost to the Liberals among his base; the Conservative incumbent, immigration minister Chris Alexander, looks set to be ousted by the Liberal MP Alexander toppled in 2011, Mark Holland. | Places to watch: ridings – electoral districts – in downtown Toronto and Vancouver, many of which are Liberal/NDP marginal seats, will indicate how united the support is behind the centrist Liberals, and act as good bellwethers. In the greater Toronto area, suburban seats like Ajax, where the conservatives wiped the Liberals out in 2011, will show how much support Harper has lost to the Liberals among his base; the Conservative incumbent, immigration minister Chris Alexander, looks set to be ousted by the Liberal MP Alexander toppled in 2011, Mark Holland. |
| Meanwhile the oil-rich province of Alberta, where Harper is himself an MP, will be useful for seeing if the NDP can maintain the anti-Conservative sentiment which saw them win provincial power here in a sensational revolt against Harper’s party back in May. | Meanwhile the oil-rich province of Alberta, where Harper is himself an MP, will be useful for seeing if the NDP can maintain the anti-Conservative sentiment which saw them win provincial power here in a sensational revolt against Harper’s party back in May. |
| Polling has been staggered across Canada’s timezones in the hope that a result might be available at roughly the same time. Polls opened at 9.30am eastern time in Ontario, and an hour later in British Columbia, on the west coast (7.30am local time). Results will start pouring in pretty quickly after the polls close, at 9.30pm eastern in Ontario and 10.30pm eastern in British Columbia. | Polling has been staggered across Canada’s timezones in the hope that a result might be available at roughly the same time. Polls opened at 9.30am eastern time in Ontario, and an hour later in British Columbia, on the west coast (7.30am local time). Results will start pouring in pretty quickly after the polls close, at 9.30pm eastern in Ontario and 10.30pm eastern in British Columbia. |
| Stay with us – it could be a bumpy ride. | Stay with us – it could be a bumpy ride. |