Canadians Elected Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper as Their Next Prime Minister

The Conservatives were hovering at around 125 seats. The Conservatives were taking about 36 percent of the vote nationwide. Under Canada's electoral system, the Conservatives, as the largest party, would form a minority government. That will force Harper to find support from around 30 opposition lawmakers in order to advance measures through Parliament. The Conservatives also made a double-digit gain in seats in Ontario, the most populous province and a Liberal stronghold.

Harper, 46, an economist from Calgary, was poised to become 22nd prime minister of Canada, marking a comeback for the political right after a dozen years in the political wilderness.