Canadians looked set for political change on Monday as polls showed a strong prospect that Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government will be ousted, or reduced to a minority, amid a late surge by Liberal rival Justin Trudeau. The 11-week campaign was considered too close to call for nearly two months, a virtual tie between the Conservatives, Liberals and left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP).
But the emergence of Trudeau, the 43-year-old son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, as frontrunner in recent polls has much of Canada's national media writing Harper's political obituary after nine years in office. "Fear of Harper" has spurred more Canadians to vote, said youth worker Hilary Chapple after casting her ballot at the city hall in Calgary, Alberta province's energy capital.
"I think people are now engaged more. They want to change things," she said. Still, a potential three-way split in votes means it will be hard for either the Conservatives or center-left Liberals to win a majority of seats. A minority victory would likely presage another election in less than two years. The Conservatives also tend to surpass poll forecasts, in part because of a strong get-out-the-vote machine. Harper exceeded expectations by winning a majority in 2011 after two minorities in 2006 and 2008.
Eric Tonellato, 43, gave his vote to Harper because he likes his promise of lower taxes and banning women from wearing the niqab during certain citizenship ceremonies. "We need to maintain our Canadian traditions," he said after voting in finance minister Joe Oliver's Toronto riding, or electoral district.
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