Bloc Quebecois (BQ) has suffered a crushing defeat in yesterday's federal election as they have failed to reelect almost all their MPs in the Canadian House of Commons. Quebecers have turned to the New Democratic Party (NDP, 42.9% of the popular vote) and have given them 58 out of 75 seats elected in the Francophone nation. BQ has fallen from 38% of the vote in 2008 to 24%. Translated into seats, the Bloc loses 43 out of 47 MPs they had, so they will only have 4 seats in the Parliament. The Conservatives have been elected in 7 Quebec constituencies, and the Liberals in 6.

At the federal level, the Conservatives have won an overall majority of 167 MPs out of a possible 308. Since 2006, they have governed Canada with a minority government. The NDP has risen to second place with 102 seats. The Liberals have been dealt a blow as they have lost more than half of their MPs. They have only secured 34 seats.

Bloc leader Duceppe resigns

Having lost his own seat, Gilles Duceppe has announced that he is stepping down as Bloc leader. Since 1993, the BQ had always won the majority of Quebec seats. "This time Quebecers wanted to try something else", admitted Duceppe.

Indeed, this time Quebec has chosen to send a big representation of NDP to Ottawa. The Neodemocrats want the Francophone nation to remain in Canada through an arrangement called "asymmetrical federalism", understood as "the best way to consolidate the Canadian federal State with the reality of Quebec's national character". This is contained in NDP's Sherbrooke Declaration, a document that was passed in 2005 establishing the party's position regarding Quebec. The Declaration recognizes Quebec's right for self-determination and vows to build a Canadian federation that makes possible the "recognition and accommodation of differences".

Further information:

• Elections Canada: 2011 election results
• The Globe and Mail: Harper finally wins majority as NDP surges into Opposition
• Rue Frontenac: Le Canada bleu, le Québec orange