Canadians go to the polls

CANADIANS went to the polls — a day after prime minister Stephen Harper made a final appeal for a “strong, stable, Conservative majority government” and warned he could be toppled by a leftist coalition if he does not get it.

Harper, in power since 2006, has won two elections but never with a majority of parliament’s 308 seats.

If he does not get a majority this time, opposition parties are expected to try to form a coalition government.