However, it remained to be seen whether Conservatives won enough seats in Parliament to assemble a majority government, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said.

The network said Harper's party did surprising well in New Brunswick and some other parts of Atlantic Canada, though it was didn't make inroads in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Early returns in Ontario indicated the Liberal party stronghold had been infiltrated by Conservatives.

In Quebec, the Bloc Quebecois grabbed an early lead in Quebec where 75 seats are at stake. Conservatives had hoped to pick up seats in the province.

Still to be determined, as well, would be the political futures of Liberal leader Stephane Dion and New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton, should their parties slip backward in this, Canada's 40th general election.

While there are 19 parties on ballots in various regions, there were five main parties running: Harper's Conservatives, Dions Liberals, Layton's socialist NDP, the separatist Bloc Quebecois and the Green Party.

The CBC said there were 1,601 candidates seeking 308 seats in Parliament, which was dissolved Sept. 7 when Harper said he couldn't govern with opposition threats of non-confidence against his minority government.

At the time, the Conservatives held 127 seats, the Liberals had 95, the Bloc Quebecois held 48 and the NDP, 30. Independents held three seats, and four seats were vacant, the broadcaster said.