TERRACE, B.C. -- There are still some extremely close races that are too close to call, but what is clear is that the $600-million federal election has left the country almost exactly where it started.
Justin Trudeau will lead a Liberal minority government and the Conservatives will continue as the official Opposition.
In his victory speech, Trudeau acknowledged divisions were laid bare during the 36-day federal election campaign.
But the Liberal leader told supporters in his Quebec riding that Canadians are united in their determination to end the pandemic and get back to normal.
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole predicts Trudeau will use his minority to plunge the country into "18 months of perpetual campaigning" and vowed his party will be ready if that happens.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh delivered a very short, more subdued speech from Burnaby, even though this time his party did make some gains.
He told supporters he still wants to see Canada's wealthiest people pay more taxes so lower-income Canadians don't have to.
Here in the Northwest, Taylor Bachrach has held onto Skeena-Bulkley Valley for the NDP.
With all but one of the riding's 224 polls reporting, Bachrach finished with just under 15,000 votes -- about 2000 better than runner-up Claire Rattee of the Conservatives.
In percentages, that works out to 42.3% for Bachrach and 36.2% for Rattee.
The other four candidates finished well back.
Jody Craven of the People's Party finished third, edging out Lakhwinder Jhaj of the Liberals 7.9 to 7.8 per cent (2,784 votes for Craven, 2,752 for Jhaj).
The Green Party's Adeana Young received 3.8% of the vote (1,340) and the Christian Heritage Party's Rod Taylor finishing sixth with 2.1% of the vote (753 votes).
Voter turnout was 52.55% -- that does not include electors who registered on election day.
