The record turnout among Canadian Muslims reflected a growing sense of participation.

Despite their relatively small number, Canadian Muslims have managed to speak louder this time.

Their voter turnout was higher than that of national numbers in the federal elections, according to the Canadian Islamic Congress.

“Early election Exit Polls show a majority of eligible voters (more than 70%) among Canadian Muslims cast ballots,” reported the Canadian Islamic Congress Political Action Committee (CICPAC).

Canadian Muslims make 1.9% of Canada's some 32.8 million people, according to the CIA Factbook.

Sixty-five per cent of all eligible voters went to the polls and voted in the minority conservative government sending the previous Liberal government packing after 12 years in power.

In the run-up to the polls, the Canadian Islamic Congress had encouraged the minority to be discriminating in casting their votes.

“We have determined that the best strategic voting option for Election '06 is to vote for the candidate, not the party,” a Congress communiqué advised Muslims.

“A "good" candidate running for a "bad" party is better than a "bad" candidate running for a "good" party.”

The eight week campaign saw an intense battle by all political parties for the votes of Canada’s growing Muslim population.

The Liberals, who traditionally have won the majority of Muslim votes, faced competition from the other parties for the minority’s support.

Muslims, however, were frustrated by the perceived persecution of Canadian Muslims by the federal Anti-Terrorism Act introduced, by the Liberals, in 2001 as well as by the security certificates, which allow non-citizens accused of terrorism to be detained without formal charges.

Many Muslims looked at other parties with the New Democratic Party attracting much of the minority’s attention for its immigrant-friendly policies and for its stance on security and foreign policy issues.

Canada's new Conservative leader Stephen Harper.

The elections also saw greater participation by Muslims in the political process with all-party debates being held in community centres and mosques during the election campaign.

Wasim Parkar, a university student, felt that the elections provided an opportunity for Muslims to become involved in the democratic process and make a difference.

“I am an active volunteer for the Young Liberals at the University of Waterloo,” Parkar told IOL.

“I felt it was my civic responsibility to be involved in the electoral and political process of this country. Living in Canada, gives Muslims the rare opportunity of being involved with their government - an opportunity that we are deprived of in pretty much all existing Muslim countries,” he added.

In addition, a number of Muslim candidates ran for all parties but a few of them have won parliamentary seats.

Liberal incumbents, Wajid Khan and Yasmin Ratansi, were re-elected in ridings in the Greater Toronto Area.

They will be joined by Liberal rookie, Omar Alghabra, who easily won the suburban Toronto riding of Mississauga-Erindale to the surprise of many people, says IOL Correspondent.

"I will not take our party into another election as leader," Martin, 67, told his supporters.