Ottawa — Canadians are voting in three key federal byelections that could hand Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberal Party of Canada a parliamentary majority.
Polls are open in three ridings: University—Rosedale, Scarborough Southwest, and Terrebonne. With the Liberals already near the 172-seat threshold, strong results tonight could reshape the balance of power in the House of Commons.
The byelections come after several MPs crossed the floor to join the Liberals, including former Conservatives and one former New Democrat. Those moves have sparked criticism from opposition parties.
Newly elected Avi Lewis said many Canadians are uncomfortable with elected MPs switching parties without returning to voters first. He argued Canadians vote not only for individuals, but also for the party they want governing the country.
Attention is also turning to Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party of Canada. Recent defections and internal concerns have increased pressure on Poilievre to stabilize caucus morale and rebuild momentum against a strengthening Liberal government.
The two Toronto-area ridings are widely viewed as traditional Liberal strongholds, while Terrebonne is considered the most competitive race of the night. The Quebec seat became vacant after the Supreme Court overturned the previous razor-thin election result.
If the Liberals secure enough wins, a majority government would give Carney more control over legislation and committees, while also raising public expectations for faster delivery on affordability, housing, and economic issues.
Tonight’s results are expected to be closely watched not only for seat counts, but for what they reveal about voter sentiment, party leadership, and the direction of Canadian politics heading into the next general election.