Canadian PM thanks Imran Khan for felicitating on election victory

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has thanked his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan for felicitating him on the election victory.

“Thanks, Prime Minister. I’m ready to keep working together for the benefit of people in both our countries,” Trudeau who hung onto power on Monday, said in a tweet on Friday.

“Congratulations Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on election victory. Looking forward to working together to further strengthen our bilateral relationship,” Premier Imran wrote on his official Twitter handle on Wednesday.

Trudeau, in power since 2015 and governing with a minority of House of Commons seats since 2019, decided to gamble on an early vote and capitalise on his government's handling of the pandemic, which included massive spending to support individuals and businesses and a push for high vaccination rates.

Instead, he will end up where he started after an unexpectedly tight election race characterised by a lacklustre campaign and voter anger at an election during a pandemic.

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, whose party placed second, conceded defeat as results trickled in late into the night. Trudeau spoke to supporters shortly after, pledging to work with other parties for the good of all Canadians.

"You are sending us back to work with a clear mandate to get Canada through this pandemic and to the brighter days ahead," Trudeau said to a small crowd gathered in a hotel ballroom. "What we've seen tonight is that millions of Canadians have chosen a progressive plan."

CBC and CTV projected that Trudeau's Liberal government would hold a minority of seats in the House of Commons, meaning he will need another party's support to govern.

(With input from Reuters)