Kamal Ghorui
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has secured a parliamentary majority for his Liberal government after a decisive performance in Monday’s by-elections, according to projections by CBC News and other major Canadian media outlets. The outcome comes amid heightened global tensions, with Carney positioning himself as a leading critic of US President Donald Trump and his “America First” policies, a stance that has shaped his political rise and resonated with Canadian voters.The Liberals are now expected to hold 174 of 343 seats in the House of Commons, giving Carney a comfortable governing majority and freeing him from reliance on opposition support to pass legislation.
Three by-elections, three key wins for Liberals
Voters went to the polls on Monday in three vacant constituencies across Ontario and Quebec, all of which were projected to fall to the Liberals:
- Scarborough Southwest (Ontario) – Liberal hold projected
- University–Rosedale (Ontario) – Liberal win projected
- Terrebonne (Quebec) – narrow Liberal victory over 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
The Quebec riding of Terrebonne emerged as the tightest race of the night, drawing national attention as the Liberals narrowly edged past the Bloc Québécois in a closely watched contest.Unofficial results showed Liberal candidate Tatiana Auguste with 48.4 per cent, ahead of the Bloc Québécois at 46.8 per cent. The Conservatives trailed far behind at 3.3 per cent, followed by the NDP at 0.5 per cent, the Greens at 0.4 per cent, and the PPC at 0.2 per cent.An extremely narrow margin had previously decided the seat before the result was overturned due to a clerical error in a mail-in ballot, setting the stage for a high-stakes rematch.Carney’s parliamentary position has strengthened not only through by-election victories but also through recent floor-crossings, with five opposition MPs joining the Liberals in recent months.The 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:
- Pass legislation without opposition backing
- Advance his economic and trade agenda
- Maintain control over election timing until the next federal vote cycle
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre criticised the outcome, arguing the majority was built through defections and by-election wins rather than a general election mandate, and vowed continued resistance in Parliament.
Trump factor and Carney’s rise
Since taking office following the resignation of former prime minister Justin Trudeau, Carney has emerged as one of the most vocal global critics of Trump’s economic nationalism, warning of a breakdown in the rules-based international order.His stance has resonated domestically, with many Canadians rallying around a more assertive national posture amid rising tensions with the United States. Analysts say this shift has helped consolidate support for the Liberals, with Carney seen as a steady economic manager capable of navigating uncertainty.
