Conservatives win majority in Canada

Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper won his coveted majority government in elections that changed Canada's political landscape. The New Democrats came in second, the best showing ever, and the Liberals and Quebec separatists suffering a shattering defeat. “It was quite a day. It was historic in many ways,” says Jim O’Leary, the Publisher & Editor of the Toronto-based Catholic Register.

He pointed out that the Liberal Party, which has ruled longer than any other party in Canada, was knocked to third place, and the Bloc Québécois was nearly wiped out, winning only four seats. Harper, who took office in 2006, has won two elections but had never held a majority in Parliament, forcing him to rely on the opposition to pass legislation.

“There has been concern from some of the more Left-leaning parties that he may bring the country further right than he would if he had to play by the rules minority government, but that remains to be seen,” O’Leary told Vatican Radio. “ He’s shown to be a very practical and methodical leader, so some people are concerned, but many others think those concerns are overplayed.”

Listen to the full interview by Charles Collins with Jim O’Leary: