Possible power shift looms for Canadians

Canadians voted yesterday in one of the country's most unpredictable elections ever, one that could give the ruling Conservatives a more solid grip on power or, just as easily, force them out of office.

The right-of-center Conservatives, who have governed Canada since 2006, started the campaign with a healthy lead and said they needed a majority of seats in the House of Commons to allow them to focus on the economic recovery and keep taxes low.

Over the last two weeks, prime minister Stephen Harper has watched his advantage dwindle in the face of an extraordinarily effective campaign by the left-leaning New Democrats, a pro-labour party that has never held power in Canada.

"I want you to create line-ups at the polls, my friends, because we can defeat Stephen Harper," New Democrat leader Jack Layton told his final rally.

Polls show the Conservatives may not have a majority