stimulus measures to help the Canadian economy contend with the global crisis and included a 'poison pill' regarding the cessation of public party financing), the leaders of the Liberal Party, New Democratic Party, and Bloc Québécois announced they had reached an agreement to approach the Governor General for the purpose of forming a coalition government. Combined, the three opposition parties constitute a majority of seats in the House of Commons. Parliament was due to vote on a no-confidence motion on December 8; if successful, the Liberals and NDP would have formally asked the Governor General to form a coalition minority government for 30 months, while the BQ pledged to support for at least 18 months. Liberal leader Stéphane Dion would have become prime minister until the selection of his successor at the Liberal leadership convention in May 2009, and a coalition cabinet would have comprised 18 Liberal (including a finance minister) and 6 NDP ministers. Governor General Michaëlle Jean had cut short a state visit to Europe "in light of the current political situation in Canada". On December 4, 2008, Jean granted Harper's request to prorogue Parliament until January 26, 2009, thereby staving off the prospect of an imminent change in government. Opinion polls Endorsements Candidates by party Bloc Québécois candidates, 2008 Canadian federal election Christian Heritage Party candidates, 2008 Canadian federal election Conservative Party candidates, 2008 Canadian federal election Green Party candidates, 2008 Canadian federal election Liberal Party candidates, 2008 Canadian federal election New Democratic Party candidates, 2008 Canadian federal election Results {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right; font-size: 95%;" |+ Summary of the October 14, 2008 House of Commons of Canada election results !rowspan=2 colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" |Party !rowspan=2 style="text-align:left;" |Party leader !rowspan=2| ! colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" |Seats ! colspan=4 style="text-align:center;" |Popular vote |- | style="text-align:center;" |2006 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |2008 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |% seats | style="text-align:center;" |# | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |% | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:left;" |Stephen Harper | style="text-align:right;" |307 | style="text-align:right;" |124 | style="text-align:right;" |127 | style="text-align:right;" |143 | style="text-align:right;" |+12.6% | style="text-align:right;" |46.4% | style="text-align:right;" |5,209,069 | style="text-align:right;" |-165,002 | style="text-align:right;" |37.65% | style="text-align:right;" |+1.38 | style="text-align:left;" |Stéphane Dion | style="text-align:right;" |307 | style="text-align:right;" |103 | style="text-align:right;" |95 | style="text-align:right;" |77 | style="text-align:right;" |-18.9% | style="text-align:right;" |25.0% | style="text-align:right;" |3,633,185 | style="text-align:right;" |-846,230 | style="text-align:right;" |26.26% | style="text-align:right;" |-3.97 | style="text-align:left;" |Gilles Duceppe | style="text-align:right;" |75 | style="text-align:right;" |51 | style="text-align:right;" |48