Canada's main opposition party concedes defeat after PM Trudeau wins third term

OTTAWA:

Erin O'Toole, the leader of Canada's main opposition Conservative Party, conceded defeat on Tuesday after failing to block Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals from securing a third term.

Speaking to supporters in his home electoral district outside Toronto, O'Toole said he had called Trudeau to congratulate him. TV networks predicted the Liberals won a minority government.

As of 12:40 a.m. (0440 GMT), the Conservatives were leading or elected in 121 of 338 seats, while the Liberals were on 157.

Read Canada's Trudeau may cling to power in election but looks unlikely to secure majority

Trudeau has taken a cautious line in public, sidestepping questions about a possible majority.

"I want as many Liberals as possible to be elected across the country because we need a strong government," he told reporters in Montreal on Sunday. In private, aides are less shy.

"You don't call an election during a pandemic just to get another minority government," said one.