Canadian PM to resign after losing elections

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin informed the governor general today that he would step down as prime minister.

Martin, 67, told Governor General Michaelle Jean of his intention to resign by telephone today.

The call was the first formal act in the transition of power from the Liberals to a Conservative minority government under Stephen Harper following the Conservative’s win in yesterday’s elections.

Harper’s Tories won 124 of Parliament’s 308 seats, while the Liberals took 103, the Bloc Quebecois 51 and the New Democrats 29. There was one independent elected.

The governor general is Canada’s largely ceremonial head of state.

Martin – who was re-elected to his Montreal seat – will remain the leader of Canada until the governor general formally approves and swears in the Harper regime.