Liberals sweep three federal byelections, strengthen Carney’s majority

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals swept three federal byelections Monday, retaining seats in British Columbia and Ontario while taking a Quebec riding from the Conservatives. The victories will increase the Liberal caucus from 170 to 173 seats in the 343-seat House of Commons, strengthening the party’s narrow majority.

In North Vancouver–Capilano, Liberal Braeden Caley was elected to replace former cabinet minister Jonathan Wilkinson, who resigned to become Canada’s ambassador to the European Union. Preliminary results showed Caley receiving approximately 58 per cent of the vote, compared with 28 per cent for Conservative Stephen Curran. Green candidate Shelley Luce finished third with roughly nine per cent.

The Liberals also retained Beaches–East York in Toronto, where Tanveer Shahnawaz received approximately 55 per cent of the vote. NDP candidate Shannon Devine placed second with about 26 per cent, while Conservative Jim Syrbos finished third with approximately 16 per cent. Shahnawaz succeeds former Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith, whose departure opened the normally reliable Liberal riding.

The most significant result came in Chicoutimi–Le Fjord, where Liberal Daniel Gobeil captured a seat held by the Conservatives since 2018. Gobeil won 51.3 per cent of the vote, followed by Bloc Québécois candidate Caroline Dubé at 32.9 per cent. Conservative Régis Gaudreault finished a distant third with 12.5 per cent. The riding became vacant when former Conservative MP Richard Martel was appointed to the Senate.

The sweep gives Carney additional breathing room in Parliament and delivers a setback to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, particularly after his party lost significant support in Chicoutimi–Le Fjord. The votes were held amid renewed trade tensions with the United States, with aluminum, forestry and dairy producers in the Quebec riding facing direct exposure to American tariffs. While four additional federal seats remain vacant, Monday’s results ensure the Liberals will enter the fall parliamentary session with their majority intact.