Harper return to office likely as Canadian voting gets under way

CANADIANS yesterday began voting in the country’s third election in four years, likely to return the Conservatives to office in the first G7 ballot since the start of a global financial meltdown.

Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper was predicted to win his second mandate since January 2006, with the latest polls giving him a 5% lead over his main rival, Liberal leader Stephane Dion.

But with one-third of voters still uncertain, and three other mainstream parties nipping at the front-runner’s heels, a Conservative victory was by no means assured.