I’m not going to write too much about the election because I already filed a late story, and I’m still processing everything, but I’m not sure that anyone saw this result. A Liberal majority. Harper resigning as leader but intending to stay on as MP for the time being. The NDP decimated, but Mulcair staying on – for now. The Liberals sweeping the entirety of Atlantic Canada and much of Quebec in seats that they hadn’t held in decades. The Bloc had a bit of a resurgence, but not much, and Duceppe didn’t keep his own seat. Liberals elected in Edmonton and Calgary. I will say that we are likely to see an era of fewer constitutional challenges and a greater respect for parliament and its institutions – which hopefully means a restored relationship with the media. Hopefully there will be fewer bills that will be subject to Charter challenges because the new government will have a better respect for civil service advice. The one thing that I do worry about is the fact that there are so many rookie MPs in this new parliament – some 140 or so of the newly elected Liberals don’t have federal experience, and that always leaves openings for the party to start exerting more control than it should. That said, most of these new MPs have impressive résumés going into the job, so that may suit them in good stead, but we’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, the next couple of weeks are going to be a whirlwind of transition, and with any luck, we’ll see Parliament summoned within a few weeks in order to get the ball rolling on the Liberals’ ambitious legislative agenda (along with taking care of things the Conservatives left too long, like the assisted dying legislation). With any luck, it’s going to be a lot of fun…

Without Peter Stoffer, that leaves the "Most Congenial MP" slot *wide open* in next year's Parliamentarian of the Year awards. #elxn42

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) October 20, 2015

I would have pegged her as a leadership hopeful. Apparently no longer. RT @RosieBarton: Megan Leslie has lost to the Liberals. #elxn42

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) October 20, 2015

Journal cartoonist Malcolm Mayes has the best take on tonight's election results. #yeg #elxn42 pic.twitter.com/NXCrfCoVsQ

— Edmonton Journal (@edmontonjournal) October 20, 2015

https://twitter.com/emmmacfarlane/status/656307070224826368

It looks like Louis Plamondon remains Dean of the House. He will preside while they elect a new Speaker. #elxn42

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) October 20, 2015

Here's the official Conservative Party statement about their upcoming leadership contest. #elxn42 pic.twitter.com/HMiLHzNuMt

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) October 20, 2015

@jengerson Moral of the story: Be careful what you wish for. You may just get it.

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) October 20, 2015

https://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/656320029911203840

Speech and party spokesperson confirm: NDP Leader Tom Mulcair will not step down. Will continue as leader despite poor results. #elxn42

— Emma Loop (@LoopEmma) October 20, 2015

Good reads:

• Jen Gerson laments that this was the worst election campaign.
• Colby Cosh reminds us that we’ve got it pretty good in Canada in 2015.
• Andrew Coyne notes that the Liberal comeback of this magnitude is unprecedented in Canadian history.

Odds and ends:

Justin Trudeau is the first Canadian prime minister to have punched out a senator since the 19th century, probably.

— Peter Lynn (@Peter_Lynn) October 20, 2015

Ready. #elxn42 pic.twitter.com/UaH4MLArNH

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 20, 2015