Mark Carney has said he will govern with “humility, determination and a clear understanding of what this moment demands” after his Liberal Party swept three byelections on Monday, securing a parliamentary majority just over a year after he took office. The Liberals now hold 174 of 343 seats, giving Carney only the third majority government in Canada in two decades.
The majority was built in an unusual fashion, combining ballot box victories with defections from rival parties. Danielle Martin won easily in University-Rosedale, while Doly Begum, who crossed from the provincial New Democratic Party, captured nearly 70% of the vote in Scarborough Southwest. Tatiana Auguste, whose 2025 victory by a single vote made headlines, prevailed in a tight race in Terrebonne, Quebec. The Conservatives now hold 140 seats, the Bloc Québécois 22, the NDP six, and the Greens one.
“This is a time to come together so we can build a Canada strong for all,” Carney said in a statement, calling for bipartisan collaboration. “We will build a Canada that is not just strong, but good; not just prosperous, but fair.” Carney’s minority government had been bolstered by the threat of US protectionist trade policies under Donald Trump, which shored up support for the prime minister’s pledge of steady economic management.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre condemned the outcome, accusing Carney of winning through “backroom deals with politicians who betrayed the people who voted for them.” Poilievre faces reduced political power and persistent rumours that more Tories may defect. The Conservative vote share dropped by double digits in all three byelections, including one of the party’s worst-ever performances outside a major city in Quebec.
With a general election now likely three years away, the Liberals will control parliamentary committees and set the legislative agenda. On Tuesday, Carney announced a suspension of the federal fuel excise tax on gasoline and diesel until early September, calling it a “responsible measure” to cut costs amid rising fuel prices linked to the US conflict with Iran. Canada also braces for tough trade negotiations with the United States over a renewed free trade pact.
