Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney secured a parliamentary majority for his Liberal government after a decisive performance in Monday’s byelection, according to projections from CBC News and other major Canadian media outlets.
This result comes amid rising global tensions, as Carney presents himself as one of the most prominent critics of US President Donald Trump and his “America First” policies, a position that has shaped his political rise and resonated with Canadian voters.The Liberals are now expected to hold 174 of the 343 seats in the House of Commons, giving Carney a comfortable governing majority and freeing him from relying on opposition support to pass legislation.
Three by-elections, three major victories for the Liberals
Voters went to the polls Monday in three open ridings in Ontario and Quebec, all of which were expected to fall to the Liberals:
- SW SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO – Expect Liberals to take control
- University – Rosedale (Ontario) – Predict a Liberal win
- Terrebonne (Quebec) – Liberals narrowly win over the Bloc Québécois
The Toronto area seats were previously held by senior Liberals who vacated Parliament after cabinet reshuffles and diplomatic appointments.
Terrebonne: Closest contest of the night
Quebec’s Terrebonne race emerged as the tightest race of the night, attracting national attention as the Liberals narrowly edged out the Bloc Québécois in a closely watched contest.
Unofficial results showed that Liberal candidate Tatiana Auguste obtained 48.4 percent, ahead of the Bloc Quebecois, which obtained 46.8 percent. The Conservative Party came in a distant second with 3.3 percent, followed by the National Democratic Party with 0.5 percent, the Green Party with 0.4 percent, and the Pakistan People’s Party with 0.2 percent.A razor-thin margin had previously decided the seat before the result was overturned due to a clerical error in the mail-in ballot, setting the stage for a high-stakes rematch.Carney’s parliamentary position has been strengthened not only by by-election victories, but also by recent transgressions, with five opposition MPs joining the Liberals in recent months.These developments give the Prime Minister a stable majority government, an outcome that was not widely expected when he first took office.With a majority secured, analysts say Carney will now have greater freedom to:
- Passing legislation without the support of the opposition
- Promoting his economic and trade agenda
- Maintain control over election timing until the next federal voting cycle
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the result, arguing that the majority had been built through defections and by-election victories rather than a general election mandate, and vowed to continue resistance in parliament.
The Trump factor and the rise of Carney
Since taking office after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned, Carney has emerged as one of the most prominent global critics of Trump’s economic nationalism, warning of the collapse of the rules-based international order.His stance has resonated domestically, as many Canadians have rallied around a firmer national stance amid rising tensions with the United States. Analysts say the shift has helped boost support for the Liberals, as Carney is seen as a steady economic manager capable of navigating uncertainty.
