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Qubec solidaire, for its part, was holding its breath, hoping a narrow lead would hold so it could also take a seat away from the PQ.

Liberals managed to topple Diane De Courcy, language minister in the PQ government, and slashed the margin of victory for Jean-Franois Lise, PQ minister responsible for the Montreal region.

As of 11:50 p.m., Liberals were elected or leading in 21 of 28 seats on Montreal Island, leaving four for the PQ and three for QS.

In 2012, the Liberals took 20, the PQ, six and QS, two.

Montreal has long been a Liberal stronghold.

Premier-elect Philippe Couillards Liberals kept the PQ at bay by raising the spectre of another referendum and exploiting opposition to the PQs plan to ban public workers from wearing religious gear.

QS hoped its softer line on religious minorities and its promise to hold a referendum in a first mandate would attract disillusioned, left-leaning sovereignists who normally opt for the PQ.

Four PQ ministers were running for re-election.

De Courcy, the language hardliner who spearheaded the PQs failed bid to toughen Bill 101, lost Crmazie riding to Liberal Marie Montpetit, a health-policy adviser, by about 2,400 votes.

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Liberals paint Montreal red

Sonja Puzic, CTVNews.ca Published Monday, April 7, 2014 6:36AM EDT Last Updated Tuesday, April 8, 2014 8:28AM EDT

Philippe Couillards Liberals have won the Quebec election with a majority government, crushing the sovereigntist Parti Quebecois and Premier Pauline Marois.

Liberal candidates won in 70 of the province's ridings, the Parti Quebecois won 30, the Coalition Avenir Quebec took 22 and Quebec Solidaire picked up three. The PQ got about 25 per cent of the popular vote, its lowest share since 1970.

In a stunning turn of events, Marois lost her own seat in Charlevoix-Cote-de-Beaupre to Liberal Caroline Simard.

Couillard, who was a neurosurgeon before he entered politics, easily won his riding of Roberval, defeating PQ incumbent Denis Trottier.

Taking the stage at Liberal headquarters after most of the ballots had been counted, Couillard vowed to run an inclusive and stable government that represents the interests of all Quebecers.

Our language, our flag belongs to all Quebecers, he said.

Addressing the provinces anglophones in English, Couillard said: We are all Quebecers. We should all focus on what brings us together. What unites us makes us stronger.

He later added in French: Division is over; reconciliation has arrived.

In her concession speech, Marois announced she will step down as PQ leader and ensure an orderly transition.

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Liberals win Quebec election, will form majority government

Parti Quebecois leader Pauline Marois is hugged by Nicole Leger after taking the stage following the PQ defeat in the provincial election Monday April 7, 2014 in Montreal. Marois also lost her seat in Charlevoix-Cote-de-Beaupre to Liberal candidate Caroline Simard. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson)The Associated Press

Quebec Liberal party supporters react as they watch the results on election night, Monday, April 7, 2014, in Saint-Felicien, Quebec. The Liberal Party won Quebec's legislative elections Monday, in a crushing defeat for the main separatist party and major setback for the cause of independence in the French-speaking province. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Clement Allard)The Associated Press

Quebec Liberal Party Leader Philippe Couillard casts his ballot Monday, April 7, 2014 in St-Felicien, Quebec. elections that revived the debate on whether the French-speaking province should break away from Canada. That possibility now seems far off, with the Party Quebecois facing a backlash over the renewed talk of independence, an idea that has enjoyed little support in recent years. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jacques Boissinot)The Associated Press

A man holds a voting card outside a polling station in Montreal Monday, April 7, 2014 prior to casting his ballot on election day in Quebec. Quebec's main separatist party faces a tough challenge of its own making Monday as polls opened in elections that revived the debate on whether the French-speaking province should break away from Canada. That possibility now seems far off, with the Party Quebecois facing a backlash over the renewed talk of independence, an idea that has enjoyed little support in recent years. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Graham Hughes)The Associated Press

People wait in line to vote at a polling station in Montreal Monday, April 7, 2014 on election day in Quebec. Quebec's main separatist party faces a tough challenge of its own making Monday as polls opened in elections that revived the debate on whether the French-speaking province should break away from Canada. That possibility now seems far off, with the Party Quebecois facing a backlash over the renewed talk of independence, an idea that has enjoyed little support in recent years. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Graham Hughes)The Associated Press

MONTREAL The Liberal Party won Quebec's legislative elections Monday, in a crushing defeat for the main separatist party and major setback for the cause of independence in the French-speaking province.

The results will allow the Liberals, staunch supporters of Canadian unity, to form a majority government, less than 18 months after voters had booted the party from power for the first time in nine years amid allegations of corruption.

With 99 percent of the polling stations reporting, the Liberals had 41.4 percent of the vote and took 70 of the National Assembly's 125 seats.

The separatist Parti Quebecois had 25.4 percent, and was on track to win 30 seats. The Coalition for Quebec's Future, which downplayed the sovereignty issue to focus on the economy, was close behind with 23.3 percent and 22 seats.

Quebec Premier Pauline Marois, who led a minority government, called the snap elections last month in hopes of securing a majority for her PQ party. But the campaign stirred up speculation that a PQ majority would ultimately lead to another referendum on independence from Canada, an idea that has lacked support in recent years.

Continued here:

Anti-independence Liberals win Quebec legislative elections, defeating separatist party

Sonja Puzic, CTVNews.ca Published Monday, April 7, 2014 6:36AM EDT Last Updated Tuesday, April 8, 2014 8:28AM EDT

Philippe Couillards Liberals have won the Quebec election with a majority government, crushing the sovereigntist Parti Quebecois and Premier Pauline Marois.

Liberal candidates won in 70 of the province's ridings, the Parti Quebecois won 30, the Coalition Avenir Quebec took 22 and Quebec Solidaire picked up three. The PQ got about 25 per cent of the popular vote, its lowest share since 1970.

In a stunning turn of events, Marois lost her own seat in Charlevoix-Cote-de-Beaupre to Liberal Caroline Simard.

Couillard, who was a neurosurgeon before he entered politics, easily won his riding of Roberval, defeating PQ incumbent Denis Trottier.

Taking the stage at Liberal headquarters after most of the ballots had been counted, Couillard vowed to run an inclusive and stable government that represents the interests of all Quebecers.

Our language, our flag belongs to all Quebecers, he said.

Addressing the provinces anglophones in English, Couillard said: We are all Quebecers. We should all focus on what brings us together. What unites us makes us stronger.

He later added in French: Division is over; reconciliation has arrived.

In her concession speech, Marois announced she will step down as PQ leader and ensure an orderly transition.

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Quebec Liberals win majority: 'Division is over'

Premier Pauline Marois was still in a close battle to hold her own seat.

Original story:

The Quebec Liberal Party, led by Philippe Couillard, has unseated the separatist Parti Quebecois government in Mondays provincial election, Canadian media reported less than an hour after the polls closed at 8 p.m. EDT.

The Liberals had more than 45 percent of the popular vote in early returns, CTV News reported, compared with around 30 percent for the incumbent PQ. The Coalition for Quebec's Future (CAQ) was in third place.

In order to form a majority government in Quebec, a party has to win 63 of the 125 provincial ridings. The CBC projected an outright majority for the Liberals before 9 p.m.

After an acrimonious 33-day campaign, the separatist Parti Quebecois and Premier Pauline Marois are on their way out.

The PQs controversial Quebec values charter and push for sovereignty did not translate into enough votes for the party to hold on to its minority government.

Opinion polls had been putting the Liberals in the lead for days leading up to election day, but Marois remained defiant and optimistic until the end, telling reporters earlier Monday that her party would win.

Its a beautiful day, Marois said outside the polls in her riding of Charlevoix-Cote-de-Beaupre, according to CTV. It was unclear in early returns if she had kept her own seat.

The PQ campaign was largely derailed when high-profile candidate Pierre Karl Peladeau, a media mogul, announced that he had entered politics with the goal of creating an independent Quebec.

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Quebec Liberals Oust Separatist Parti Quebecois In Provincial Election