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Harper can count blessings at historically poor result for sovereigntists
2 hours, 15 minutes ago



By Alexander Panetta

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MONTREAL (CP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper was busy counting his political blessings on Monday as he took in the Quebec election results at 24 Sussex Drive.


The poor showing by the Parti Quebecois paired with the stunning gains made by the right-wing Action democratique du Quebec offered a handful of potential benefits to the prime minister. Harper faces a weakened opposition in Parliament - most notably from the Bloc Quebecois, which for 17 years has purported to be Quebec's voice in Ottawa.


Today, the party can claim as its only ally a third-place provincial party.


"This is good news for Mr. Harper," said Desmond Morton, a political scientist at McGill University.

Harper now has more ideological allies than ever in Quebec thanks to the 41 members elected under the conservative and populist ADQ banner.


And then there are the politics of national unity.


Harper will undoubtedly argue that he helped stave off a separatist threat, one that appeared to be looming large when he took office just over a year ago.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070327/national/elxn_que_federal