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Political Sea Change Ahead? Polls Predict Conservative Win in Canada

Posted on: Tuesday, 24 January 2006, 15:00 CST

By BETH DUFF-BROWN, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OTTAWA - Canadians voted Monday in an election that could dramatically change the country's political landscape, choosing between a ruling Liberal Party weakened by political scandal and challenging Conservatives who would likely push Canada to the right and improve ties with the U.S.

Most pre-election polls forecast an end to 13 years of Liberal Party rule and a victory for Conservative leader Stephen Harper, whose ideology runs along the same lines of many U.S. Republicans.

Even if Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin, 67, does eke out a win, he'll likely head a minority government that will find it very difficult to get things done in the House of Commons.

The Liberals took an early edge in the eastern provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, winning 19 seats to 10 for the Conservatives - three more than in the last elections - and three for the New Democratic Party.

However, the lead was not expected to hold once results are tabulated in more populated central provinces.

Many Canadians have grown weary of the broken promises and corruption scandals under the Liberal Party and appeared willing to give Harper the benefit of doubt, despite fears the 46-year-old economist is too extreme in his views opposing abortion and gay marriage.

"Today will be a great day. Western Canada is finally going to get some representation," said Don Smythe, after casting his ballot for the Conservatives in Calgary, Alberta, Harper's constituency. "I think Canada has finally realized that it's time for a change and Stephen Harper and the Conservatives are the ones to do it."

Harper has pledged to cut the red tape in social welfare programs, lower the national sales tax from 7 percent to 5 percent and grant more autonomy and federal funding to Canada's 13 provinces and territories.

He also wants to improve relations between Canada and the United States, which comprise the world's largest trading bloc and conduct $1.5 billion in business daily.

The Liberals have angered Washington in recent years, condemning the war in Iraq, refusing to join the continental anti-ballistic missile plan and criticizing President Bush for rejecting the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions and enacting punitive Canadian lumber tariffs.

Harper has said he would reconsider the missile defense scheme, move beyond the Kyoto debate by establishing different environmental controls and tone down the "war of words" over lumber.

Source: Record, The; Bergen County, N.J.

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