The results are in: after yesterday’s federal election, Liberal candidate Justin Trudeau has been re-elected as Prime Minister, although the liberals will have a minority in Parliament.
There was a significant geographical divide in party preference; almost all of the liberal seats came from voters in eastern provinces, while Alberta was mostly Conservative—however, Liberal seats were spread more evenly among more constituencies. In the final tally, the Liberals had 158 seats, the Conservatives had 120, the Bloc Quebecois had 32, the NDP had 24, the Green Party had three, and former Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, an independent, had one.
The divide between voters and resulting minority Liberal government is likely to mean more arguments among parties in Parliament in years to come. Since the House of Commons requires 170 votes, Liberals will need the cooperation of at least one other party to govern, likely the NDP. However, with 32 seats, the Bloc Quebecois could have a much more significant role in Parliament than previous years, achieving official party status for the first time in three elections as well. While the Liberal party has won, their minority status will mean more complex negotiations throughout their coming years in office.