MONTREAL (REUTERS) - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals were on track for a modest loss of seats in Atlantic Canada, the first region of the country to report national election results on Monday (Sept 20), in a race expected to return him to office with a fragile hold on power.

       Trudeau heads a minority government that relies on the support of other parties to pass legislation. He called an election two years early in hopes of securing a parliamentary majority.

       But as the public’s unhappiness about the early call grew, the 49-year-old prime minister saw his lead evaporate. Liberal strategists now concede it will be hard for the party to win a majority of the House of Commons’ 338 seats.

       In the first set of regional results, Liberals were leading in 23 of 32 parliamentary districts, called ridings, in the four Atlantic provinces. The Liberals held 27 seats before the election.

       Erin O’Toole’s opposition Conservatives had focused on adding to their four Atlantic seats, and were leading in nine.

       Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau casts his ballot in Montreal on Sept 20, 2021. PHOTO: AFP

       It was too early to draw conclusions, as regional races across Canada may differ greatly or the Atlantic results could indicate a broader direction, said Scott Reid, a former Liberal adviser.

       But Reid said on CTV that any sign of Atlantic Canada results pointing to a national trend “would be worrying for the Liberals".

       Polls closed at 9.30pm EDT (0130 GMT Tuesday) in all other provinces and territories except British Columbia and Yukon. The two most-populous provinces, Ontario and Quebec, have 199 seats, or more than half of the national total.

       A delay in counting mail-in votes could hold up results in tight races.

       Elections Canada will not start counting roughly 800,000 mail-in ballots until Tuesday, after it is able to verify them against in-person votes. Those could help determine the outcome in at least two Atlantic districts and many more across Canada.

       Canada opposition leader Erin O'Toole prepares to cast his ballot in Bowmanville, Ontario, on Sept 20, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS

       Trudeau, a charismatic progressive and son of former Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, swept to power in 2015. But the Liberals dropped to a minority in 2019 after Trudeau was damaged in part by disclosures that he had worn blackface years ago.

       Amid a fourth wave of Covid-19, Trudeau backs vaccine mandates, while O’Toole, 48, opposes them and prefers a combination of voluntary vaccinations and rapid testing to stop the virus’ spread.

       After voting in downtown Montreal, Jonathan Goldbloom and his 95-year-old mother, Sheila Goldbloom, said they supported Trudeau’s handling of the pandemic.

       “He showed great leadership on the file and he’s the one who said that everyone needs to get vaccinated. I don’t feel that the Tories have been consistent in that message,” Jonathan Goldbloom said, using another term for Conservatives.

       Wayne Boone, who was walking over to vote in Ottawa, said he supports O’Toole’s Conservatives for their fiscal restraint.

       “And I’m not very happy with Pierre Jr. – as I call him - Justin Trudeau, because he tends to just spend money that we will never have,” Boone said.

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