Second Chance(ZT)
The voters have spoken. And what they said was we don't like the Liberals, but we don't trust the Conservatives. The Grits have been re-elected as the ruling party in Canada, but only with 135 seats - far short of a majority.
The Conservatives wound up with with 99, the Bloc 54, the N.D.P. 19 and there was one independent - former Aliiance member Chuck Cadman of B.C.
And with 155 needed for a majority, you don't have to be a math whiz to know the Liberals are still in big trouble. Even with the expected support of the N.D.P., they still don't have enough to hit majority status.
It likely means rough times for re-elected Prime Minister Paul Martin, who must now find a way to try and keep all his billions of dollars in campaign promises, with no sure route to guarantee he actually can.
As expected, it was in Battleground Ontario where the Liberals broke through, taking 40 of 45 seats. And only one Toronto riding didn't boast a 'red' light district. That was Toronto Danforth, where N.D.P. leader Jack Layton broke through in a squeaker over longtime Grit incumbent Dennis Mills.
In the end, a chastened Martin, plagued by a sponsorship scandal that cost him an overwhelming majority, gave a victory speech early Tuesday morning. He claims he's heard your voice, and he vows to listen to it.
"An election is a time to pass judgment, and the message in this regard was unmistakable," he agrees. "Canadians expected and expect more from us. And as a party and as a government we must do better, and we will, I pledge that to you."
But without the numbers, it remains to be seen if he can actually keep that pledge. Most pundits don't expect he'll be able to stay afloat long. Minority governments in Canada generally last about 18 months.
Still, like everything in politics, things could still change. There are likely to be recounts in several close ridings, and they could alter the outcome of the seat count in Ottawa.