The votes are still being counted in British Columbia, where the final result of provincial elections held May 9 could impact energy projects linking Canada's energy heartland with the province's Pacific Ocean ports. Preliminary results show that the ruling British Columbia Liberal Party appears to have fallen a seat short of a majority. Absentee votes have yet to be counted, however, and the tallies in some ridings (Canadian electoral districts) are close enough to warrant recounts, including one where the Liberal Party candidate lost by just nine votes. But if the results hold, two key energy endeavors currently in the works could run into trouble. The Liberal Party won 43 of the 87 contested districts, just one shy of guaranteeing a parliamentary majority. Premier Christy Clark now faces the prospect of trying to form the province's first minority government since 1952.