General

Canadians head to the polls

Leaders cast their ballots as Canada decides

Polling stations are open across Canada as of 7 a.m. PT on Monday, and will remain open for 12 hours in each time zone. The CBC reports that Conservative leader Stephen Harper will cast his vote in Calgary at 11 a.m MT. Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and NDP Leader Jack Layton have already cast their votes in Toronto. Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe has yet to announce when he will cast his ballot, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May will cast her ballot in Sidney B.C. at 10 a.m. PT. First results will be broadcast starting at 10 p.m. ET, after polls close in British Columbia. Over two million Canadians have already voted in advance polls during the Easter Weekend, marking a 34 per cent increase from the 2008 election. Voters have been warned not to follow voting instructions from anyone but Elections Canada, after reports have surfaced of voters being given false information in several Ontario ridings. The federal party leaders made their final pitches to voters on Sunday. Jack Layton told supporters in Kingston, Ont., that his party could defeat Stephen Harper, who in turn blasted the NDP’s platform as a giant tax hike. Meanwhile, Michael Ignatieff appealed to voters by trying to illustrate the differences between him and Layton, reminding listeners that the NDP has never formed a federal government.

CBC News

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