Polls open with Canadian PM seeking majority

OTTAWA – Canada’s Conservative prime minister appeared poised to retain his job as polls opened in Tuesday’s national election, but he faced a greater challenge in winning a parliamentary majority to bolster his power.

Both polls and pundits predicted another minority government for Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Harper, who has had a tenuous hold on power since the 2006 election and is forced to rely on the opposition to pass legislation, called the vote in hopes of winning the 155 seats needed for a majority in the 308-seat Parliament.

But Harper, the first major world leader to face election since the global credit crisis worsened, has been hurt by his slow reaction to the market meltdown, and that – among other missteps – may have cost him his bid for the majority.

“He’s probably maneuvered himself to a position where he can probably hold power, but he won’t actually be able to implement his agenda,” said Robert Bothwell, director of the international relations program at the University of Toronto. “I think the absolute best result for Harper is a stalemate.”