Canada's Election Results: Trudeau Retains Power, But The Liberals Fail To Gain A Majority.

The Liberals are expected to win 158 seats, less than the 170 seats needed for Trudeau's majority by early election invitation. The Conservatives have maintained their leading opposition status and are expected to win about 122 seats. "There are still votes to be counted, but what we see tonight is that millions of Canadians have voted for the progressive plan," Trudeau told Montreal supporters in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The election, held during Canada's fourth wave of the pandemic, was the most expensive in the country's history, costing an estimated $600 million ($470 million; £344 million).

The projected results show a very similar parliament to the parliament elected just two years ago in 2019. The early election invitation, which Canadians sent to the polls for the second time in two years, was widely seen as Trudeau's bid to win a majority government, and he struggled to explain why the campaign was necessary. Conservative leader Erin O'Toole said it was a waste of time and money.

"Canada sent him back to our big country with another minority for $600 million and deeper divisions," he told reporters. Trudeau said the election gave the new government a clear mandate to move forward. However, there was controversy over three cases in which he wore a black and tan face during the election campaign - widely accepted as a racist caricature.

Regardless, he was struck by protesters opposing vaccines during the election campaign, with some shouting that they would counter the Covid-19 strike. While questions inevitably arise about Trudeau's political future, Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez told reporters earlier that evening that despite the outcome, he has "100% confidence" in him as leader of the Liberal Party.

The country's left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP), capitalizing on the message of "taxing the super-rich" and leader Jagmet Singh trying to join liberal-frustrated progressive voters, appears to have won few seats. The number of votes will continue to increase in the coming days as election officials count about one million votes in this election, and seat results are currently undetermined.

Caption Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole speaking from Oshawa, Ontario

For the Conservatives, the result was disappointing for new party leader Erin O'Toole, who turned to a centrist message to expand the party's support base.

As in 2019, the party is expected to win the referendum. But the "First Post-Post Past" system - providing the candidate with the most votes in each constituency - means not becoming a seat. Speaking to party supporters in Oshawa, Ontario, Mr. The provocative O'Toole conveyed his vision for a giant conservative tent and said, "Our party needs courage to change because Canada has changed."