Conservatives actually increased their share of the popular vote, but dropped from 22 seats to 17 in British Columbia.

Final polls leading up to the election suggested the popular vote was split almost exactly three ways in the province. Conservatives actually showed a drop in support in the final days of the campaign, bleeding potential votes to the NDP and Liberals in some key ridings.

In one of the more notable races Monday night, former NDP provincial cabinet minister Penny Priddy won the riding of Surrey North, previously held by Independent (and former Conservative) Chuck Cadman, who died last year. Conservatives had hoped to win that seat back.

In another Lower Mainland riding, New Westminster-Coquitlam Conservative incumbent Paul Forseth was knocked off by NDP challenger Dawn Black. Black is a former MP who lost her seat in 1993.

The NDP's Alex Atamanenko won British Columbia Southern Interior from the Conservatives, after the Tory candidate there was discovered to be facing jail time if found guilty on charges brought against him by Customs Canada.

Two major Conservative candidates back in, easily, are Deputy Speaker Chuck Strahl in the Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon riding, and foreign affairs critic Stockwell Day in Okanagan-Coquihalla.

Day is the former leader for the Canadian Alliance Party.

Conservative James Moore defeated former Coquitlam mayor Jon Kingsbury, holding on to his seat in Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam.

"We ran a great campaign," Moore told CTV News.

"My opponents put forward very classy, thoughtful campaigns as well. I think B.C. is ready. We've been ready for a new government for a long time. We're proud of Stephen Harper and we're proud of the national campaign."

Some prominent Liberals will be returning to Parliament.

Liberal Hedy Fry won Vancouver Centre, beating star NDP candidate Svend Robinson.

"I didn't allow Svend Robinson to be my challenge," Fry said.

"My challenge was that I was running in an election. I've done the same things every election and I've had the same team."

A former MP for Burnaby, Robinson gave up his seat in 2004 after a scandal involving theft of a $60,000 ring. He pleaded guilty to theft charges and left politics. His return was controversial.

"Of course I had hoped to make history here in Vancouver, but it will have to wait until next time," Robinson told supporters.

He added that he is proud of NDP Leader Jack Layton's campaign, and said that the NDP will continue to stand against the Conservatives in Parliament.

"We know that that with Jack Layton and a bigger NDP caucus in Ottawa, that if Stephen Harper dares to roll back equality rights, or turn Canada into some kind of 51st state of the United States of George Bush, Jack Layton and the New Democrats will be there to fight back," he said.

"Perhaps this was a referendum on Svend Robinson himself as much as it was a contest against Hedy Fry," said CTV's Todd Battis.

However, Fry is another controversial figure, once suggesting in the House of Commons that "crosses are being burned on lawns as we speak" in Prince George, B.C.

Her statement was proved false and she lost her cabinet position in 2002, although she remained in the Liberal Party.

Some prominent Liberals held onto their seats, including Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh in Vancouver South, Industry Minister David Emerson in Vancouver Kingsway, and former Reform and Canadian Alliance MP Keith Martin, who crossed the floor before the 2004 election.

Also re-elected in their Lower Mainland ridings: Raymond Chan, Minister of State for Multiculturalism, and Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport).