PM Harper vows never to shift to hard right

TORONTO (AP)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said yesterday that he won't shift to the hard right after his Conservatives won a long-sought majority in Canada's Parliament.

Monday's election marks a change in the country's political landscape with opposition Liberals and Quebec separatists suffering a punishing defeat.

Harper said the Conservatives won their mandate because of the way they've governed so far and sought to allay fears he would implement a hidden right wing agenda.

Harper, who took office in 2006, has won two elections but until Monday's vote had never held a majority of Parliament's 308 seats, forcing him to rely on the opposition to pass legislation.

Grand opportunity

Harper has deliberately avoided sweeping policy changes, but now has an opportunity to pass any legislation he wants with his new majority.

"We got that mandate because of the way we have governed and Canadians expect us to continue to move forward in the same way," said Harper, who has incrementally moved Canada to the right.

In past elections, Harper did not explicitly ask for a majority to avoid raising fears among Canadians that they would implement a hidden right-wing agenda and on Tuesday sought to reassure the country of his commitment to public health care.