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Liberals secure majority in House of Commons
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party has achieved a narrow majority in the House of Commons after winning all three by-elections held on Monday, according to projections by Canadian media outlets. The victories, combined with recent defections from opposition parties, grant the Liberals 174 of the 343 seats, providing Carney with greater legislative autonomy.
By-election results and key wins
Liberal candidates triumphed in two Toronto-area ridings-Scarborough Southwest and University-Rosedale-as well as in Terrebonne, Quebec. The Toronto seats became vacant after former Liberal Defence Minister Bill Blair was appointed Canada's High Commissioner to the UK, and Chrystia Freeland, previously deputy prime minister, took on an advisory role in Ukraine.
In Terrebonne, Liberal candidate Tatiana Auguste was projected to defeat Bloc Québécois's Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné. Auguste had previously won the riding by a single vote in the last election, though the results were later overturned by the Supreme Court due to a clerical error involving a mail-in ballot.
Defections bolster Liberal position
Prior to the by-elections, Carney had already strengthened his party's standing with five defections from opposition benches-four from the Conservatives and one from the New Democratic Party-over the past five months. Reports suggest additional MPs may be considering crossing the floor to join the Liberals.
This marks the first instance in Canadian history where a governing party has secured a majority through a combination of by-election victories and defections.
Political context and opposition reaction
The Liberal majority represents a significant shift in fortunes for the party, which was widely expected to lose last year's federal election before former leader Justin Trudeau resigned in January after nearly a decade in power. Carney, who succeeded Trudeau, led the Liberals to a minority government victory in April, capitalizing on heightened support amid tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump.
"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."
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, in a statement on X
Poilievre accused the Liberals of seeking unchecked power, adding, "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."
Implications for governance
With a majority, Carney's government can now pass legislation without relying on opposition support, potentially allowing him to avoid a federal election until 2029. The prime minister congratulated the victorious Liberal candidates, Danielle Martin and Doly Begum, in a post on X on Monday night.
