the election resulted in significant upheaval within the opposition parties, as the new democratic party (ndp) rode an "orange surge" in the polls during the campaign to 103 seats, becoming her majesty's loyal opposition for the first time in party history. the total eclipsed the party's previous best of 43 seats in 1988. the liberals however were reduced to third party status nationwide. they returned only 34 mps, less than half of what they had at dissolution. it was the first time in canadian history that the liberals were not one of the top two parties in the house. green party leader elizabeth may won in her riding, becoming the first green party candidate elected to a governmental body in canada, and to a national body in north america.