Justin Trudeau: new Canadian PM

Canadians have voted for a massive change in their general elections, ousting the Conservative government of Prime Minister  Stephen Harper and giving  the  Liberal Party  led by Justin Trudeau, a landslide victory.

The centrist Liberals  started the campaign in third place but in a stunning turnaround now command a majority.

Few had predicted the Liberal victory on this scale. They look set to win 184 seats, a huge increase from only 36 that they held after suffering their worst-ever election result in 2011.

Mr Trudeau, the 43-year-old son of late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, said Canadians had voted for real change.

The BBC reported that incumbent Conservative PM Stephen Harper  has accepted defeat and his party said he will step down as leader.

Harper: accepts defeat

It was the longest campaign in Canada’s history, and had been thought to be much closer.

Speaking after the polls closed, Mr Harper said he had already congratulated Mr Trudeau, saying the Conservatives would accept the results “without hesitation”.

Addressing his jubilant supporters shortly afterwards, Mr Trudeau said that Canadians “sent a clear message tonight – it’s time for a change”.

They become the first party ever to move from third place in parliament to a majority in one election.

Meanwhile, the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) is on course to win 44 seats, less than half the number they held in the outgoing parliament.

“I congratulated Mr Trudeau on his exceptional achievement,” said NDP leader Tom Mulcair.

*Reported by BBC