Canada Sets April 13 By-Elections in Three Ridings as Carney Government Faces Key Political Test

Despite ongoing speculation about the timing of federal elections, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday announced the dates for by-elections in three ridings to fill vacant seats in the House of Commons. The vacancies follow the resignations of two sitting Members of Parliament, while the third seat became vacant after a judicial ruling invalidated the previous election result.

Among the by-elections scheduled for next month is the Montreal-area riding of Terrebonne, where the Supreme Court of Canada recently nullified last year’s election result. The seat had initially been won by Liberal candidate Tatiana Auguste.

By-elections will also take place on April 13, 2026, in the ridings of Scarborough Southwest and University—Rosedale.

The contests are widely viewed as an important political test for Prime Minister Carney and his ruling Liberal Party of Canada, as the opposition Conservative Party of Canada continues to challenge the government’s minority status in Parliament.

The Scarborough Southwest seat became vacant after longtime MP Bill Blair resigned to assume the role of Canada’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. The University—Rosedale seat opened following the resignation of former federal minister Chrystia Freeland in January, when she accepted a voluntary advisory role with the Ukrainian government.

In Terrebonne, Liberal candidate Auguste was initially declared the winner before the result shifted to Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné of the Bloc Québécois after a validation of ballots. A judicial recount completed on May 10 later concluded that the Liberals had received one more vote than Sinclair-Desgagné.

Sinclair-Desgagné subsequently challenged the outcome after a supporter reported that a special ballot submitted by mail had not been counted. On February 13, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Bloc candidate and invalidated the election result, prompting the by-election.

The Liberals currently hold 169 seats in the House of Commons. If the party wins all three by-elections, it would secure a narrow majority government.

For the upcoming contests, the Liberals have nominated family physician and health care advocate Danielle Martin in University—Rosedale. In Scarborough Southwest, the party has selected Doly Begum, a former Ontario New Democratic Party deputy leader. Her decision to leave the Ontario New Democratic Party and run for the Liberals has generated controversy, as she previously served as a long-time NDP legislator. Both ridings are considered Liberal strongholds.

According to Elections Canada, voters in the three ridings can cast ballots in advance polls between April 3 and April 6 at their designated polling stations or at Elections Canada offices before April 7. Mail-in ballots must also be submitted before April 7.

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