Byelections following wave of MP resignations set to cost upwards of $22M

Elections Canada anticipates the upcoming byelections, triggered by member of Parliament resignations, will incur costs of over $22 million for taxpayers. This estimate encompasses the first annual payment of $205.00 plus GST for a one-year subscription, which automatically renews at $233.00 plus GST every 52 weeks, offering a 10% discount compared to the regular annual price of $259.35. The offer is available to new and qualified returning subscribers only, with the option to cancel at any time.

Each byelection typically costs an average of $2 million to conduct, depending on various factors such as location and duration. In April, three byelections took place and were all won by the Liberals. Five more are scheduled for August 31, with the contests in North Vancouver—Capilano, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, Quebec, and Beaches—East York, Toronto.

To fill remaining House of Commons vacancies, an additional six byelections are required before December 31, marking the year with the highest number of byelections in recent history.

The last time 11 byelections occurred was in 2017, with the total cost reported by Elections Canada at around $10 million. This report by The Canadian Press was initially published on August 10, 2026.