Byelection wins a ‘clear message’ of support for trade stance, Carney says

Prime Minister Mark Carney believes the Liberal Party's three recent byelection victories send a "clear message" that Canadians support the government's trade stance in the ongoing trade war with the United States. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Carney highlighted that Liberal candidates won by significant margins in ridings across Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia.

Carney stated that Canadians support the government's plan of building a strong economy at home, diversifying with reliable partners, and ensuring Canada's success for all.

The Liberals secured all three byelections on Monday evening, but the margins of victory added more to the celebration than just gaining new MPs. Daniel Gobeil, the Liberal candidate in Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, won with a nearly 20 percentage point lead over the Bloc Québécois candidate. Regis Gaudreault, the Conservative candidate in a seat held by the Conservatives since 2015, finished third with only 12.5 per cent of the vote.

Both Liberal candidates in Ontario's Beaches-East York and British Columbia's North Vancouver-Capilano won by even wider margins, with Braeden Caley, a former senior political staffer, taking the Liberal seat in North Vancouver-Capilano.

The Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, were not expected to win any of the three seats. However, Poilievre may face increased opposition within his party after three uncompetitive performances. The Conservatives have few practical paths to power without a strong showing in Quebec. The byelections followed the collapse of trade talks between Carney's government and the Trump administration.

Carney referred to the American trade actions as a "war" and emphasized that Canadians support the government's decision to stand firm in trade negotiations with the U.S., even if it means higher costs and job losses. An Ipsos poll found that 63 per cent of Canadians supported the government's stance on counter-tariffs on $28 billion in American goods.

Carney expressed optimism that a mutually beneficial trade deal could be achieved if the Americans stop undermining Canada's military and stop trying to be tough, instead focusing on serious discussions.