major federalist party in Québec outside of Montreal, winning eight seats from the Bloc Québécois and two from the Liberals. The Liberals lost five Montreal-area seats and Gatineau to the Bloc. The Bloc retained its majority of seats in Québec. However, the sovereigntist party failed to garner more than 50% of the popular vote, which early polls during the election campaign had indicated was a strong possibility. The Bloc's share of the vote actually declined as support for the Conservatives surged. The Conservatives unexpectedly won several seats in the Quebec City region, including Beauport—Limoilou, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, Lévis—Bellechasse, and Louis-Hébert, all of which had been considered safe seats for the Bloc Québécois. Several high-profile cabinet ministers also lost their seats. Minister of Canadian Heritage, Liza Frulla, lost her re-election bid to the Bloc's Thierry St-Cyr in Jeanne-Le Ber while Minister of Foreign Affairs Pierre Pettigrew lost to the Bloc's Vivian Barbot in Papineau. In Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, independent candidate and former radio host André Arthur defeated incumbent Guy Côté of the Bloc. In Vaudreuil—Soulanges, the Liberal star candidate and former astronaut Marc Garneau failed in his bid to unseat the incumbent Bloc MP Meili Faille. Also of note, out of every Canadian federal election held since Confederation in 1867, the Liberals attained their lowest historical share of the popular vote, with only 20.7%. Although their all-time lowest share of seats was 12 in 1988, their support managed to get them one more seat, 13, this time. Ontario The Liberals lost 21 seats in the province; 17 to the Conservatives and four to the New Democratic Party. The NDP's Irene Mathyssen won the seat of London—Fanshawe, which was previously held by independent MP Pat O'Brien. O'Brien was formerly a Liberal, until June 2005, when he left the Liberals and became an independent. In Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, Wayne Marston of the NDP defeated Tony Valeri, who held the position of leader of the government in the House of Commons. In Hamilton Mountain, the NDP's Chris Charlton won the seat vacated by Beth Phinney, who retired. Elsewhere in the Hamilton area, Conservative David Sweet defeated Russ Powers, the Liberal incumbent in Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale. In Ottawa, NDP candidate Paul Dewar was elected in Ottawa Centre, succeeding retiring NDP MP and former leader Ed Broadbent. The Conservatives gained two seats in Ottawa, with Ontario MPP John Baird picking up the open seat in Ottawa West—Nepean to succeed retiring Liberal MP