As Canada’s newly elected Parliament prepares to convene, some well-known figures from across the political spectrum won’t be returning to the House of Commons. Among the most high-profile losses were two party leaders: Pierre Poilievre of the Conservatives and Jagmeet Singh of the NDP, both of whom were defeated by Liberal challengers in stunning upsets.
Singh finished a distant third in Burnaby Central, capping a difficult campaign for the New Democrats. Poilievre’s loss in Carleton, a riding he had represented for 20 years, shocked political observers and marked a major personal setback after leading the Conservatives through a hard-fought national campaign.
Beyond the leaders, several prominent MPs and longtime incumbents also fell to challengers in a wave of change that touched all major parties.
NDP stalwart Niki Ashton, who first entered Parliament in 2008 and once vied for party leadership, lost her Manitoba seat to Liberal Rebecca Chartrand. Ashton’s defeat ends a 17-year tenure representing Churchill–Keewatinook Aski.
Peter Julian, the NDP’s House leader and MP for New Westminster-Burnaby since 2004, also lost his seat. Julian’s exit is particularly significant given his seniority in the party and his potential to serve as interim leader following Singh’s departure. He was defeated by Liberal Jake Sawatzky in the newly redrawn New Westminster–Burnaby–Maillardville riding.
The Liberals, though victorious overall, suffered notable losses in Ontario’s competitive 905 region. Kamal Khera, a nurse and cabinet minister under both Trudeau and Carney, lost Brampton West to Conservative Amarjeet Gill. Khera had served as federal health minister in Carney’s early cabinet.
Ya’ara Saks, former mental health and addictions minister, also fell to Conservative Roman Baber in York Centre. Baber, previously expelled from Ontario’s PC caucus, returned to politics federally and ousted Saks, who was first elected in 2020.
In Hamilton East–Stoney Creek, Liberal MP Chad Collins lost to Conservative Ned Kuruc. Collins had publicly urged Justin Trudeau to step down prior to the election and had only served one term in office.
On the Conservative side, despite overall gains, the party lost some key voices. Dr. Stephen Ellis, a former health critic, was defeated in Nova Scotia’s Cumberland–Colchester riding by Liberal Alana Hirtle. Ellis had only served one term but was seen as a rising figure in the caucus.
Tracy Gray, the Conservative MP for Kelowna–Lake Country, lost her seat by just over 200 votes to Liberal Stephen Fuhr. Gray served as the Opposition’s employment critic and had unseated Fuhr in 2018, only to lose the seat in a narrow rematch.
Another vocal Conservative, Michelle Ferreri, lost her Peterborough seat to Liberal newcomer Emma Harrison. Ferreri had gained attention as a passionate critic in the social development portfolio.
The Bloc Québécois also saw high-profile departures. Alain Therrien, the party’s House leader and a key figure in parliamentary debates, lost in La Prairie–Atateken to Liberal Jacques Ramsay. Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet called Therrien’s defeat “especially difficult,” highlighting his central role in the party.
Longtime Liberal MP Diane Lebouthillier, who had served in cabinet since 2015, was defeated by Bloc candidate Alexis Deschênes in the redrawn riding of Gaspésie–Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine–Listuguj.
In Ontario’s southwest, several NDP losses reflected growing Conservative strength in working-class areas. Brian Masse, who had held Windsor West since 2002, was unseated by Conservative Harb Gill. Masse was a key voice on Canada-U.S. relations and trade.
Lindsay Mathyssen, who succeeded her mother in London–Fanshawe in 2019, lost to Conservative Kurt Holman. Holman will be the first Conservative MP for the riding in more than 20 years.
The Greens were also impacted. Mike Morrice, one of just two Green MPs in the last Parliament, lost Kitchener Centre to Conservative Kelly DeRidder. Morrice’s initial win in 2021 came under unique circumstances when the Liberal candidate dropped out mid-campaign. This time, with Liberal Brian Adeba on the ballot, the vote split contributed to his defeat.
As the new Parliament takes shape, it will do so without many of the familiar faces who helped define the previous political landscape. Their departures mark a generational shift—and open the door to new voices in Ottawa.