Conservative Canadian leader fighting to stay in power

Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s nearly 10 years in power could end next week, along with his dream of shattering Canada’s image as a liberal bastion. Harper, one of the longest-serving Western leaders, is seeking a rare fourth term in Monday’s election but polls show him narrowly trailing Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, the son of late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, one of Canada’s most charismatic politicians. The social democratic New Democratic Party (NDP) started the campaign - one of the longest in Canadian history - as the frontrunner but have stumbled in the final straight.

It’s certainly a battle between one man, Mr. Harper, against the legacy of another man who is being represented by his son.

Antonia Maioni, a political science professor at Montreal’s McGill University

Harper has done what many thought impossible since coming to power in 2006: He won three consecutive elections and nudged a traditionally center-left country to the right. For Harper, a loss to the Liberals would be personally devastating. Former colleagues say his long-term goal is nothing short of redefining what it means to be Canadian, killing the long-held notion that the Liberals are Canada’s natural party. A minority government in the 338-seat Parliament appears likely no matter which party wins the most seats. That would mean the winning party would have a shaky hold on power and need to rely on another party to pass legislation.

His whole being is about destroying the Liberals. If Justin beats Harper, Harper will just go through the roof or maybe he’ll melt like the Wicked Witch of the West.

Robert Bothwell, a Canadian history professor at the University of Toronto.

Politics Canada election