Canada's ruling Liberals retained power in Monday's election but it is too soon to say whether they will form a majority government, according to predictions.

The result might not be known for some time and could depend on the westernmost province of British Columbia, where polls closed last.

The Liberals need to win 172 of the House of Commons' 343 electoral districts, known as seats, for a majority that would allow them to govern without support from a smaller party.

Local media CTV News and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) projected that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals would fall short of the majority government. 

(With input from Reuters)