The Liberal Party once again rules in Canada. It’s not exactly a resounding victory, though. Only around 43 per cent of voters cast their ballots for the party led by Mark Carney, meaning 57 per cent preferred somebody or something else. Forty-one per cent would have liked a Conservative Party government, led by Pierre Poilievre.

In a two-party system, like our neighbours to the south, the vote, in spite of how close it was, would have resulted in a majority Liberal government. But there were 16 parties with candidates, plus two other types not affiliated with parties. (Though what the difference is between ‘Independent’ and ‘Unaffiliated’ is not clear). Only three of those won seats – the Bloc Quebecois with 23 and the NDP with seven (including one in Alberta), and the Green with one.

So the Liberals do not enjoy a majority of seats in the House, again, and must court either the Bloc or the NDP members to get their agenda through. That is not necessarily a bad thing.

Here at home in Alberta, it was same old, same old, with the province ending up almost entirely Tory blue. The Conservatives got 63.6 per cent of the vote, but 92 per cent of the seats. Twenty-eight per cent of Alberta voters went Liberal, but it didn’t do them much good: only two candidates got elected. NDP supporters, with 6.2 per cent of the vote, managed to elect one candidate.

Even closer to home, Peace River-Westlock went – as expected – for incumbent Conservative Arnold Viersen.

Those predicting the Liberal win will result in disaster for Canada are of course overdoing it. For one thing, minority governments can’t get away with too much. For another, let’s have a bit of perspective on the situation. Canada has been going back and forth between Liberal and Conservative governments for decades. The differences between them were marginal, and most reasonable people would agree the results were never disastrous.

The main difference these days is the vicious demonization that takes place, greatly enhanced in its power by social media. People allow themselves to believe the worst, and get very worked up. This isn’t helpful, to them or to the process.

So your neighbour voted differently than you. So what? They’re still your neighbour, and you still have to get along.