Canadian PM confident in forming stable government

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said Tuesday he is confident he can get his Liberal Party's major policies through Parliament without a formal coalition with another party.

"I think what we have got is a stable minority government, I dobelieve minority governments can have mandates and I do believe we have a mandate from the people to act on the issues we set out," Martin told reporters one day after the federal election.

In the federal election on Monday, the ruling Liberal Party gained 135 seats in the 308-seat Parliament, the Conservatives 99,the New Democrats 19, and the Bloc Quebecois 54. The results mean the Liberals can not get any laws passed without the cooperation of at least some of the members of the other parties.

But Martin said he is confident he can work on a case-by-case basis to find common ground on his main priorities: health care, anational day-care program and a better deal for cities.

Martin said he had already met with Governor General Adrienne Clarkson and informed her of how to form a cabinet before considering how soon he will convene the Parliament.

The Canadian prime minister also said that he had spoken to leaders of other parties, but they did not discuss how they could work together.

Source: Xinhua