VOA标准英语10月-Canadian Conservatives Remain in Power

Canadians have re-elected the Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. As Craig McCulloch reports, despite the win, Mr. Harper still has a minority government in Canada's House of Commons.
　

Stephen Harper and relative celebrate Conservative Party minority victory in the Canadian federal election, 14 Oct 2008

Stephen Harper's Conservatives have retained power, with 143 Members of parliament leading or having been elected.

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion will remain the official opposition¹ leader, as his party appears to have won 76 seats.

Canada follows the British parliamentary system, which means voters cast ballots² for local members of parliament, not party leaders. The ruling party chooses the prime minister.

Because Mr, Harper won less than the 155 needed for a majority in Canada's 308 seat House of Commons, he has another minority government. The Conservatives gained 15 members since the last election - mostly at the expense of the Liberals.

The Bloc³ Quebecois, which only runs candidates in the mostly French-speaking Province of Quebec, will have 50 seats. The Socialist-minded New Democratic Party has 37 seats. There are two independents.

The campaign started in September, with no real issues grabbing the spotlight⁴. That all changed with the financial meltdown on Wall Street that brought economic issues to the fore⁵, the last two weeks of the campaign.

Making his victory speech in his hometown, Calgary, Prime Minister Harper said Canada will come out ahead, despite the economic turmoil⁶.

"Canadians are worried right now and I understand those worries," he said. "I want to assure Canadians that, working together, we will weather this storm and we will position our economy to emerge stronger than ever before."

Conceding in his hometown, Montreal, Liberal leader Stephane Dion says, at least for now, he will continue as opposition leader.

"We Liberals will do our part, responsibly; to make sure that this parliament works," Dion said. "It is clear that our economy, indeed the global economic crisis, is the most important issue facing our country at this time. As the official opposition, we will work with the government to make sure that Canadians are protected from the economic storm."

The biggest question now for Dion is whether he can continue as leader of the Liberal Party. Many veteran political watchers are anticipating his exit from the job, in the coming weeks.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

4 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

5 fore   

adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部

参考例句：

• Your seat is in the fore part of the aircraft.你的座位在飞机的前部。
• I have the gift of fore knowledge.我能够未卜先知。

6 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。