TORONTO (AP) — Three upcoming by-elections could determine whether Canada’s Liberal Party gains complete control of Parliament, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Sunday.
Carney scheduled the special elections for April 13 in three constituencies: two Toronto-area seats in Scarborough Southwest and University-Rosedale, plus the Montreal-area district of Terrebonne.
Political analysts view the two Toronto constituencies as likely Liberal victories, though the Terrebonne race remains competitive and unpredictable.
With 169 seats currently in the House of Commons, the Liberals sit just three seats short of the 172 needed for majority control, which would enable them to advance their legislative agenda without requiring opposition party backing.
The Liberal caucus has grown recently through defections, as three Conservative MPs — Chris d’Entremont, Michael Ma and Matt Jeneroux — switched parties in recent months.
Jeneroux cited Carney’s World Economic Forum address in Davos as influential in his decision to join the Liberals. The prime minister’s remarks criticizing economic bullying by major powers against smaller nations drew significant international attention and overshadowed U.S. President Donald Trump’s presence at the event.
The Terrebonne election stems from a Supreme Court ruling that overturned the Liberals’ narrow one-vote victory there. The Quebec-based Bloc Québécois had challenged the results after a voter complained about an uncounted mail-in ballot.
Even with victories in all three races, the Liberals would still require House Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia’s tie-breaking votes to guarantee passage of government bills.
Since replacing Justin Trudeau as prime minister in 2025 and winning the subsequent national election, Carney has positioned the Liberal Party toward the political center.
