LAYTON HEADS OFFICIAL OPPOSITIONThe NDP produced by far its strongest showing ever, giving genial party leader Jack Layton a role as head of Canada's official opposition.The party had campaigned on a platform of higher corporate taxes and an end to subsidies for the powerful energy sector although, like the Conservatives and the Liberals, it also said it would balance the budget within years.Its plans for a cap-and-trade system to rein in greenhouse gas emissions were a negative for energy producers -- Canada is the largest exporter of energy to the United States, itself the world's biggest consumer."There's benefit in the stability that comes with a majority government. I think that's going to be good for our industry and for investors," said David Collyer, president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers."The NDP has a different view than us on some of the key policy issues and we'll have to work with them to see if we can find some common ground.""We have seen tonight, I think, the emergence of a polarization in Canadian politics," Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff said in a sad address to the party faithful."We have a government that will pretend to govern from the center and there's a risk it will move the country to the right. We will have an official opposition that will criticize from the center but possibly move the country to the left."He added: "It's tough to lose like this."
Canada's Conservative Party scores massive election win
"What a great night. ... Canadians can now turn the page on the uncertainties and the repeat elections of the past seven years,"Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper says.
LAYTON HEADS OFFICIAL OPPOSITIONThe NDP produced by far its strongest showing ever, giving genial party leader Jack Layton a role as head of Canada's official opposition.The party had campaigned on a platform of higher corporate taxes and an end to subsidies for the powerful energy sector although, like the Conservatives and the Liberals, it also said it would balance the budget within years.Its plans for a cap-and-trade system to rein in greenhouse gas emissions were a negative for energy producers -- Canada is the largest exporter of energy to the United States, itself the world's biggest consumer."There's benefit in the stability that comes with a majority government. I think that's going to be good for our industry and for investors," said David Collyer, president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers."The NDP has a different view than us on some of the key policy issues and we'll have to work with them to see if we can find some common ground.""We have seen tonight, I think, the emergence of a polarization in Canadian politics," Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff said in a sad address to the party faithful."We have a government that will pretend to govern from the center and there's a risk it will move the country to the right. We will have an official opposition that will criticize from the center but possibly move the country to the left."He added: "It's tough to lose like this."