Ballots are still being counted but it appears certain that the Conservatives under Stephen Harper have won a sizeable majority with 160 to 170 seats. The results for the other main parties have all been very surprising. The Liberals, formerly the "Natural Governing Party" have been handed a resounding defeat, gaining around 40 seats. Our official opposition, with more than 100 seats, will now be the New Democrats, a socialist party whose platform included things like raising corporate taxes, places roadblocks in the path of oilsands development, increased funding of social programs etc. Had they achieved a majority it would be time to move to another country. The Bloc Quebecois whose main objective in life was Quebec independence but who only succeeded in blackmailing the rest of the country for financial gains for the province, has almost been wiped out - they hoped for at least 30 seats and are only going to get about 4. Their leader has lost his seat in parliament. All told, this result should be bullish for the country and the stock market. Harper is lowering corporate taxes, encouraging industrial development and says he will lower personal taxes and reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy as well. After many years of minority governments forced to make compromises to stay alive we will have one party in control for the next four or five years, for better or worse. I am personally happy with this result.