Judicial recounts expected in 2 ridings

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper has his long-sought-after majority government but it is still unclear how many MPs will be sitting in his caucus as at least two judicial recounts are planned.

The Conservatives were elected in 167 ridings in Monday's federal election, but that final tally could still change depending on the outcome of the pair of judicial recounts.

Judicial recounts are automatic when the margin of victory is less than 1/1,000 of the total number of votes cast.

So far, an automatic recount is slated for Etobicoke-Centre where Conservative Ted Opitz is leading Liberal incumbent Borys Wrzesnewskyj by 26 votes. Opitz's margin of victory is 21,661 to 21,635.

And Conservative candidate Jay Aspin is holding a 14-vote lead over Liberal Anthony Rota in the riding of Nipissing-Timiskaming.

There are other recounts that are still possible as Elections Canada is in the process of validating the results in the 308 ridings.

A defeated candidate also has the option to request a recount under certain circumstances, such as allegations of incorrectly rejected or miscounted ballots.

There are several ridings that were decided by very tight margins.

For instance, Liberal Kevin Lamoureux defeated NDP candidate Rebecca Blaikie in Winnipeg North by 117 votes.

And Conservative Bernard Généreux defeated the NDP's Francois Lapointe by 110 votes in the Quebec riding of Montmagny-L'Islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup.

Voters in the Yukon also witnessed Conservative Ryan Leef defeat Liberal Larry Bagnell by 132 votes.

In 2008, there were judicial recounts in Vancouver South, Kitchener-Waterloo, Egmont, Brossard-La Prairie and Brampton-West. A recount had been started in the riding of Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca but it was halted when a candidate who requested the recount withdrew his application.

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