Canadian federal election, 2008
- Indep. 2
- NDP: 37
- Lib: 77
- BQ: 49
- Kon: 143
The 40th Canadian General Election (English 40th Canadian General Election, French 40e élection fédérale canadienne ) took place on 14 October 2008. Were elected 308 members of the Canadian House of Commons (English House of Commons, French Chambre des Communes ). The ballot brought only minor changes. The Conservatives of Prime Minister Stephen Harper could their seat number was slightly larger, but are still able to form a minority government. Made gains, the New Democrats, while the Liberals suffered the greatest losses.
Background
In the general election, 2006 the Conservative Party had become with 36.27 % strongest party, after its chairman Stephen Harper was able to form a minority government. Since then, seven lower house deputies changed their party affiliation: Three Liberals went to the Conservatives, a conservative joined the Liberals, each a member of the Bloc Québécois and the Conservative politicize independent, a Liberal helped by joining the Green Party for the first time ever to a seat in the federal parliament.
Since August 2008, the opposition parties had threatened the position of confidence and the ruling Conservative Party further denied their support in the legislative process, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced on 7 September to early elections and asked Governor General Michaëlle Jean need to disband the House prematurely. At the time of the dissolution of parliament four seats were vacant; scheduled for September 2008 elections were subsequently canceled. Without premature dissolution of parliament elections should have been held on 19 October 2009 at the latest.
Results
Overall result
Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
With 59.7 %, the turnout was as low as ever. In the 2004 elections, the rate was 60.9 %, which at that time also represented the worst result ever.