Paul Martin new Liberal leader

Paul Martin has been officially elected as the new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and he will soon take over from Jean Chrtien as prime minister.

Martin won an overwhelming majority - 3,242 of the 3,453 eligible votes - more than 93 per cent of the ballots.

Martin was all but guaranteed the leader's job in September when he swept up 90 per cent of the delegates. His only competitor, Heritage Minister Sheila Copps, acknowledged earlier in the day she would not win the party's top job.

Near the end of her address to convention delegates, she urged Liberals to "work your hearts out for Paul." Copps said, "I know that the soon-to-be Right Honourable Paul Martin will be a great Liberal prime minister."

Martin will address the Liberal convention on Friday night. In his acceptance speech, Martin is expected to tell Canadians he's neither a man of the right nor the left, and he won't be held hostage by political ghosts of the past.

His priorities include modernizing Canada's economy, increasing Canada's international presence and improving relations with the provinces. Topping Martin's list is the protection of health care.