Posted on 01/23/2006 6:09:03 PM PST by mylife
First polls close as Canada votes in stages Last Updated Mon, 23 Jan 2006 20:03:19 EST CBC News
The polls have closed in Newfoundland and the Maritimes as Canadians choose a government.
Although results cannot be posted on websites until 10 p.m. ET on Monday, after all ballots are cast across the country, the easternmost polls closed at 8:30 p.m. Newfoundland time (7 p.m. ET).
Polls closed half an hour later in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, most of Labrador and Îlles de la Madeleine. NDP Leader Jack Layton and NDP candidate Olivia Chow vote in Toronto, Monday.
Earlier, Liberal Leader Paul Martin voted in Montreal, looking tense as he arrived at a polling station in his Lasalle-Émard riding.
With his wife, Sheila, at his side, Martin said: "I feel great. I feel great."
Polling stations across Canada are open for 12 hours, with closing times varying from region to region.
NDP Leader Jack Layton and wife Olivia Chow, also running for the NDP, walked with her mother, Ho Sze Chow, to a Toronto polling station.
Chow is the NDP candidate in the riding where they live.
Asked who he voted for, Layton said: "It's a secret ballot. But I've got a great candidate here."
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper voted weeks ago, casting a ballot at an Elections Canada office during the Christmas break. His riding is in Calgary.
Voters in Atlantic Canada who cast their ballots early didn't have to face light snow or flurries expected in several parts of the region later in the day.
Environment Canada had issued high-wind warnings for northeast Newfoundland, where gusts peaked at 120 kilometres an hour.
Flooding in the upper St. John River Valley was keeping a small number of people near Grand Falls from voting.
In other parts of the country, areas of Quebec and Ontario were expecting light snow, while rain or drizzle was expected in parts of British Columbia, including Vancouver.
The Prairies faced "unusual January weather," with a warm front crossing southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, bringing mild temperatures at zero or slightly above.
Only the Arctic had been expected to get significant snowfall.
Doors opened at polling stations in the eastern time zone at 9:30 a.m. local time. Those in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I. opened at 8:30 a.m. local time.
Canadians whose clocks are set to central time must cast their ballots before 8:30 p.m. They opened at 8:30 a.m.
In the mountain time zone, the polls opened at 7:30 a.m. and were to stay open until 7:30 p.m.
And voters on the West Coast in the Pacific time zone started voting at 7 a.m., with polls open until 7 pm
There are a total of 1,634 candidates in 308 ridings in the country's 39th general election.
They represent 15 political parties, plus Independent candidates.
Your the second to voice that opinion.
Lets hope it all works out for the Torys
Wow! thats where you all are
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