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

Mark Carney's Liberal Party triumphed in all three parliamentary special elections held in Canada on Monday, signaling continued public backing for the prime minister following trade disputes with the United States. The by-elections were prompted by resignations of three MPs. A significant outcome was Carney's party claiming a Quebec seat previously held by an opposition Conservative.

The other two contests in Ontario and British Columbia saw the Liberals retain their seats as predicted. Carney's approval ratings surged after he halted trade talks with the US, criticizing Canada's southern neighbor for proposing "unfair" terms. The prime minister congratulated the victorious Liberal candidates on social media platform X, emphasizing Canada's resilience in a changing world.

The results secure Carney's narrow majority in the House of Commons. Quebec's Liberal candidate Daniel Gobeil, a dairy farmer, secured his district's seat, having garnered over half the vote. In Ontario, Tanveer Shahnawaz and in British Columbia, Braeden Caley emerged as winners. The Conservatives have lagged behind the Liberals, with recent polls indicating a 10-point gap.

Four Conservative MPs have shifted to the governing Liberals since the April 2025 election, and three more are expected to do so. Richard Martel, a former Conservative MP, resigned from the Senate after being appointed by Carney. This victory bolsters Carney's government and Quebec's economy, which could suffer significant losses due to Trump's new tariffs on Canadian goods.