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Canadas left-of-center party, the New Democrats, won a larger role on the national stage following June 28 elections that resulted in the Liberal Party losing its majority.

At the expense of the ruling Liberal government headed for the past six months by Prime Minister Paul Martin, the New Democratic Party (NDP) benefited from voter dissatisfaction with recent scandals and missteps involving Liberals. Under Canadas parliamentary system, the moderate Liberal Party and the NDP will form a coalition to create a center-left government. Liberals have governed for a decade with a majority; this will be the first time in 25 years that Canada will have a national government with no clear majority.

"This was one of the most exciting federal elections weve had in many years, and this is good for labor initiatives," said IBEW First District International Vice President Phil Flemming. "The NDP will make or break this government. The Liberals and the NDP will need to work together."

NDP leader Jack Layton, of Toronto, Ontario promised his party, now holding 19 seats in Parliament, would push to preserve social programs, especially the national health care program, Medicare. "Parliament is about to get a big, new dose of energy," Layton told the Toronto Star after his defeat of a popular Liberal party incumbent.

While the business sector has mixed feelings about the Liberal-NDP coalition, one benefit for both labor and business is that $300 million in financial assistance for Ford Motor Company of Canada and General Motors of Canada is likely to move forward. Such help would preserve jobs and be a boon for Canadas economy.

The Canadian Labour Congress welcomed the election results. The CLC anticipates renewed emphasis on jobs, health care, employment insurance, child care, pensions and pay equity.

With a surge in popular support, the NDP nearly doubled its gains of four years ago. The Conservative Party, formed from an October 2003 merger of the Progressive Conservatives and the ultra-right Canadian Alliance Party, picked up a few seats on Monday at the expense of the Liberals. But even with this increase, they will have little power.  This was a major concern for unions as the Conservatives are not known for their embrace of issues concerning working families, said IBEW International Representative Peter Routliff.

"These are the priorities of working families who expect this election to bring a new progressive Canada of livable communities, a Canada where workers raise their standard of living to improve the quality of life across the country," said Canadian Labour Congress President Ken Georgetti. The CLC represents approximately 3 million workers belonging to national and international unions, including the IBEW.