Trudeau, Mulcair reject any suggestion of backing a Harper minority government

[George II]

1. I think you pretty much have it, but it's more complicated than the US.

From what I've seen (talking to relatives up there), Harper may not have the highest number of seats, but its close.

I don't see how he gets even as much support as he does - he's despised by many Canadians coast to coast and some laws he got passed have not been enforced by the Provinces. Some types of laws, although Federal laws, are put in the hands of the Provinces (something like unfunded mandates down here in the US, but different of course) who can choose not to provide resources to enforce them.

I've been up in Ontario during campaign season - it's a lot better there than down here. In some races there is little or no negative campaigning, they pretty much stick to the issues. In the cases of campaigning against an incumbent, its a little negative but almost entirely on criticizing positions on the issues, none of this childish "3 AM phone call" stuff.

About the worst I've ever seen, from the outside, has been Rob Ford campaigns. But he's out of the picture now anyway.