Martin phones Governor General to resign

Last Updated: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 | 11:20 AM ET

CBC News

Prime Minister Paul Martin called Governor General Michaëlle Jean on Tuesday morning to tell her he would resign following his party's election loss on Monday.

That's the extent of the communication expected from Martin the day after his Liberals were defeated by the Conservatives.

• FROM JAN. 23, 2006: Martin to quit as Liberal leader, describes 'privilege to serve'

Liberal Leader Paul Martin after conceding defeat in Lasalle, Quebec, Monday Jan. 23. (CP Photo/Fred Chartrand)

Martin's successor, meanwhile, is expected to fly from Calgary to Ottawa in the afternoon to begin his new job as prime minister-designate and set the wheels in motion for a transfer of power.

Stephen Harper led his party to a minority victory, taking 124 of 308 seats, while the Liberals were reduced to 103 seats. Martin said he won't lead the party into the next election.

Beginning Tuesday morning, a transition group of Conservative staffers were to join the Privy Council Office to begin to work on some of the technical aspects of the transition, said Hugh Segal, a Tory senator and adviser to Harper.

"Staff will talk to staff of the outgoing prime minister and begin to look at notions of dates and times," Segal told CBC Newsworld. "That would lead to a meeting between the leaders some time in the next five to 10 days and then that would be the point at which a formal date of transition would be announced."

• FROM JAN. 23, 2006: Conservatives celebrate minority government victory

One of the main challenges facing Harper in the coming days is to decide who to bring into cabinet.

Segal said Harper will have to make the same sorts of calculations every other prime minister has had to make balancing concerns, including the need to reward longtime party loyalists and to balance regional representation.

A new cabinet could be sworn in as quickly as two weeks.

For his part, deputy leader Peter MacKay said he has no expectations about being offered a cabinet post.

On Monday evening, Monte Solberg, who was the finance critic of the Conservatives in the last Parliament, said he would be happy if Harper allows him to carry his briefcase into the House.

Experience could be the most important attribute for cabinet ministers, particularly in a minority government, said CBC-TV's parliamentary bureau chief Keith Boag.

"Experience has got to be the number one criterion," he said.

Despite its minority standing, the new government is likely to be granted time to find its footing.

NDP Leader Jack Layton indicated on Monday night he didn't think the country was interested in another election soon.

The Bloc Québécois wouldn't obstruct the government just for the sake of being obstructionist, leader Gilles Duceppe said on Tuesday.

And the Liberals will be too much concerned about choosing a leader to replace Martin to force a quick election.