Carney secures Liberal majority after by-election wins

Carney secures Liberal majority after by-election wins

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party has achieved a narrow majority in the House of Commons, reinforcing its political dominance following by-election victories on Monday. This follows a year of leadership under Carney and five defections from opposition members of parliament to the Liberal ranks. The party now holds 174 of the 343 seats in the House, granting Carney greater autonomy in advancing his legislative priorities and potentially postponing the next federal election until 2029.

By-election results and key ridings

Media outlets including CBC, CTV, and the Globe and Mail are forecasting Liberal triumphs in two Toronto-area constituencies—Scarborough Southwest and University-Rosedale—as well as the Quebec riding of Terrebonne. These seats became vacant after Bill Blair, former Liberal Defence Minister, was appointed Canada’s High Commissioner to the UK, and Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau’s former deputy prime minister, transitioned to a role advising Ukraine.

Carney extended his congratulations to winning candidates Danielle Martin and Doly Begum on Monday evening via X. In Terrebonne, Tatiana Auguste narrowly defeated Bloc Quebecois candidate Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné. Auguste’s win was previously invalidated by the Supreme Court in early 2024 due to a clerical error on a mail-in ballot, but the current results have reinstated the Liberal majority in the region.

A shift in political dynamics

The Liberal majority represents a pivotal moment for the party, which was anticipated to lose last year’s federal election before Justin Trudeau stepped down in January. This paved the way for Carney to lead the party, culminating in a minority government win in April 2024 as support for the Liberals grew amid aggressive rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Notably, this is the first time Canada has seen a majority government formed through a combination of by-elections and defections to the ruling party. Trudeau had previously led the nation to a majority in 2015, though his government later became a minority. Carney’s strategy has now transformed the political landscape, with five defectors—four Conservatives and one from the New Democratic Party—bolstering his parliamentary base.

“The Carney Liberals did not win a majority government through a general election or today’s by-elections. Instead, it was won through backroom deals with politicians who betrayed the people who voted for them,” said Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre on X. He added: “Liberals expect Canadians to give up, get complacent and go away, so Carney can have total power without any accountability. That will not happen. Our country and its people are worth fighting for.”