Canada's Liberals sweep three seats in boost for Carney after trade tensions with US

Canada's Liberal Party secured all three parliamentary special elections held on Monday, a sign of continued public backing for Prime Minister Mark Carney amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States. The elections were prompted by the resignations of three MPs, with Carney's party claiming a Quebec seat previously occupied by an opposition Conservative.

In Ontario and British Columbia, the Liberals maintained their seats as polls had anticipated. Following Carney's decision to terminate trade talks with the US, accusing Canada's southern neighbor of proposing unfair terms, he has seen a rise in public opinion. The prime minister celebrated the triumphs of the three Liberal candidates on social media, emphasizing Canada's resilience in a changing world.

Daniel Gobeil, a dairy farmer and Liberal candidate in Quebec's Chicoutimi-Le Fjord district, won the election with over half of the votes, defeating the Bloc Québécois and Conservatives. Tanveer Shahnawaz and Braeden Caley emerged victorious in Ontario and British Columbia, respectively. The Conservatives have been struggling to narrow the gap with the Liberals since losing the previous federal election, currently trailing by about 10 points in polls.

Four Conservative MPs have crossed over to the Liberals since the April 2025 election, three of whom have resigned or announced plans to do so. Richard Martel, a former Conservative MP from Quebec, resigned last month to join Canada's Senate. This loss of Martel's seat to the Liberals further weakens the Conservative position, particularly as Quebec may suffer significant economic losses due to the imposition of 50% tariffs on Canadian goods by the US, as warned by Oxford Economics.