Mark Carney’s Liberals Secure Majority Government After By-Election Wins

The Liberals have secured a majority government, bringing an end to years of uncertainty under minority rule. Led by Mark Carney, the party crossed the majority threshold after winning all three by-elections held April 13.

The outcome reduces the likelihood of an early federal election, a scenario the opposition Conservatives had been advocating. The results also mark a transition from minority governance to a more stable majority in the House of Commons.

Carney called the by-elections following vacancies created by diplomatic appointments and a legal ruling. The move also gave opposition leader Pierre Poilievre an opportunity to return via a by-election after his defeat in the April federal election.

In Toronto’s University–Rosedale riding, Danielle Martin won for the Liberals, while Doly Begum secured Scarborough Southwest after switching from the New Democratic Party earlier this year.

In Quebec’s Terrebonne riding, Liberal candidate Tatiana Auguste defeated Bloc Québécois’ Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné by 731 votes, with all polls reporting.

Martin’s victory delivered the Liberals their 172-seat majority, with additional wins bringing their total to 174 seats in the 343-member House.

“As of tonight, Mark Carney and our entire incredible Liberal team have earned an even more powerful mandate to continue building a better Canada. Now, this is not a mandate to be quiet. It is not a mandate to take our time. It is a mandate to get to work on housing, on affordability, on healthcare, on climate change, and on infrastructure, on the future of our economy and the public services that are more important to this country than ever,” Martin said.

The University–Rosedale seat became vacant after Chrystia Freeland resigned in January to take on international roles. Martin won decisively, capturing 64 percent of the vote, ahead of the NDP’s Serena Purdy.

In Scarborough Southwest, the by-election followed Bill Blair’s resignation to serve as Canada’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Begum won nearly 70 percent of the vote. “Tonight, we celebrate a new beginning. Over the last two months, hundreds of you from every corner of our beautiful riding and beyond came together to knock on doors, make phone calls, and sometimes canvas in the freezing rain to connect with families and neighbors across Scarborough Southwest,” Begum said. “To every single one of you, thank you.”

She later told reporters that Carney congratulated her and invited her to attend caucus meetings.

In Terrebonne, the by-election followed a contested 2025 result involving a mail-in ballot. After a judicial recount confirmed a narrow Liberal lead, the seat returned to the polls.

Ahead of the by-elections, the Liberals had already approached a majority due to a series of floor crossings. Four Conservative MPs and one NDP MP joined the Liberals between late 2025 and early 2026, strengthening the party’s position in Parliament.

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