Martin officially resigns as prime minister

Paul Martin formally resigned as prime minister on Monday, ending close to 13 years of Liberal rule in Ottawa and clearing the way for the country's first Conservative government since 1993.

Martin's visit to Rideau Hall, Gov. Gen. Michalle Jean's official residence, lasted about 10 minutes. He smiled and waved as he left, but didn't make any comment.

Following tradition, his resignation comes about an hour-and-a-half before prime minister-designate Stephen Harper and his cabinet are sworn in at Rideau Hall.

Shortly after Harper becomes Canada's 22nd prime minister, his cabinet will be announced, and CBC News has been told there will be fewer than 30 ministers. The last cabinet, under the Liberals, had 37.

The swearing-in ceremony will start after Harper presents Jean with his list of ministers, selected from the 124 MPs elected in the Jan. 23 federal vote. The procedure will end with an official picture just after noon.

There has been much speculation about Harper's choices for cabinet. He must balance the need to represent gender, regions, minorities and political experience, while keeping an eye to the future.

• INDEPTH: Tory cabinet possibilities

Harper also needs to strike a rural-urban balance after being shut out of three of the country's largest cities Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

He's expected to create a strong role for Quebec in cabinet. In a swing through the province during the last week of the election campaign, Harper said he needed Pontiac MP Lawrence Cannon in cabinet. By choosing a minister from Quebec, where the Tories won 10 seats, Harper can show Quebecers that voting Conservative will give them power in government.

Harper is also expected to appoint at least three MPs from Atlantic Canada, including Peter MacKay and Loyola Hearn.

Among the Ontario MPs with provincial cabinet experience are John Baird, Tony Clement, and Jim Flaherty, ministers under former Ontario premier Mike Harris.

Other possible cabinet postings include:

Harper has warned that many in his party will be disappointed.

"I will make the decisions in what I think are [in] the best interests of the country and more particularly in the best interests of having a smooth operating machinery of government," said Harper during his first news conference after winning the federal election.

The new Conservative cabinet won't waste any time getting to work, with its first meeting scheduled for 12:30 p.m. MT. According to earlier reports, Harper could recall the 39th Parliament within weeks and deliver a budget by the end of March.