“Tonight, friends, our great country has voted for change, and Canadians have asked our party to take the lead in delivering that change,’’ Harper told supporters at his campaign headquarters in Calgary, Alberta after his win.

“I am saying to all Canadians that we will respect the trust you have given us, we will keep our word, we will honor that trust, we will deliver on our commitments,” Harper said.

Harper’s Conservatives won more seats than any other party, but still only have 124 of the 308 seats in the House of Commons. Falling short of the needed 155 seats for majority control means he’ll have to gain the favor of at least one opposition party to support him in the House, according to the Associated Press.

“Since he is a minority, hopefully he will run things smart enough that he’ll gain more popularity,” said Samantha Robson, a freshmen from Fort McMurray, Alberta.

The AP recorded that the Liberals won 103 seats, the left-wing New Democrats won 29 seats, the separatist Bloc Quebecois won 51 seats and one seat went to an independent candidate.

“The people of Canada have chosen him to lead a minority government. I wish him the best,” said Paul Martin, current prime minister of Canada. “We differ on many things, but we all share a belief in the potential and the promise of Canada, the desire of our country, to succeed.”

Martin stunned his supporters last Tuesday by announcing he would immediately step down as the leader of the Liberal party, though he will continue to represent his Montreal, Quebec, seat in parliament.

Harper said he is in opposition to Canada’s pro-abortion laws, though he has vowed his party will not propose legislation to overturn it. However, he may call for another parliamentary vote on same sex marriage. As mentioned by the AP, Bush supporters are vehemently opposed to abortion and gay marriage, though they likely understand those are domestic issues Canadians will decide for themselves.

The White House congratulated Harper, who will be sworn in within the next two weeks. “We look forward to strengthening our relations and working with the new government,’’ said Scott McClellen, President Bush’s spokesperson.