Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party secured victories in all three parliamentary special elections held in Canada, signaling continued public support for his government.
One of the most significant wins occurred in a Québec seat previously held by an opposition Conservative member. The results also saw the Liberals retain their seats in Ontario and British Columbia, as anticipated by pollsters. These outcomes help Prime Minister Carney maintain his slim majority in the House of Commons.
The special elections were triggered by the resignations of three Members of Parliament. In the Québec district of Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, Liberal candidate Daniel Gobeil, a dairy farmer, won the seat with over half of the total votes, defeating the Bloc Québécois and the Conservatives. Gobeil stated that the victory signifies the maintenance of Canadian unity across the country. In Ontario, Tanveer Shahnawaz won in Beaches-East York, and Braeden Caley was victorious in North Vancouver-Capilano, British Columbia.
These by-election results come at a time when Carney's government has seen a recent increase in its approval ratings, with the prime minister's personal popularity also rising, according to Abacus Data. This boost is partly attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump's perceived lack of popularity among Canadians and Carney's firm stance during recent trade negotiations.
Carney's government recently ended trade talks with the U.S., with the prime minister characterizing the proposed terms as "unfair." This decision has been met with public approval, contributing to a four-point rise in government approval ratings. The trend is particularly notable in Québec, a province expected to be significantly impacted by new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. Global forecasting firm Oxford Economics has warned that Québec could face substantial economic losses in the coming years due to the collapsed trade talks.
The Conservative Party has struggled to gain traction since losing the last federal election, currently trailing the Liberals by approximately 10 points in polls. The party has seen several members switch to the governing Liberals or resign. The loss of the Québec seat, previously held by Conservative MP Richard Martel who was appointed to the Senate, is seen as another setback for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.