Tories to form goverment; NDP official opposition

Global News has declared a Conservative government with the NDP as official opposition.

Barry Kay, Global News’ election results specialist, made the call moments ago based on the results from much of eastern Canada.

The campaign for this federal election, the fourth in seven years, began uneventfully but gained momentum in recent weeks thanks to an unprecedented NDP surge in seat-rich Quebec.

The New Democrats doubled their support to rise to first place in Quebec and second place nationally – a historic first for the left-leaning party.

Recent polls suggested the New Democrats were nipping at the heels of the Conservatives, and analysts said a split of the centre-left vote might give Harper his long-coveted majority government. It was not to be.

On Sunday, NDP leader Jack Layton said — for the first time — he felt his party could defeat Harper and the Conservatives.

In Montreal, he told supporters the NDP was experiencing an “historic opportunity” and he urged supporters to encourage friends, family members to vote for his party.

"If we’re going to make these winds of change really happen, then we’ve got a lot of work to do," he said.

In 2008, the Tories won their second straight minority government by taking 143 seats compared to 77 for the Liberals, 49 for the Bloc and 37 for the NDP.