Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin informed the governor general Tuesday that he would step down as prime minister, The Associated Press reported. Martin, 67, told Governor General Michaelle Jean of his intention to resign by telephone on Tuesday morning, AP said. The call was the first formal act in the transition of power from the Liberals to a Conservative minority government under Stephen Harper following the Conservative's win in the Monday elections. Harper's Tories won 124 of Parliament's 308 seats, while the Liberals took 103, the Bloc Quebecois 51 and the New Democrats 29. There was one independent elected. The governor general is Canada's largely ceremonial head of state. Martin who was re-elected to his Montreal seat will remain the leader of Canada until the governor general formally approves and swears in the Harper regime.
