March 9, 2026
RED FM News Desk
Prime Minister Mark Carney has officially called three federal byelections for April 13, a move that could shift the balance of power in the House of Commons. The votes will take place in the Toronto-area ridings of Scarborough Southwest and University–Rosedale, as well as the Quebec riding of Terrebonne. While political analysts view the Toronto seats as Liberal strongholds, the contest in Terrebonne arrives under extraordinary circumstances following a high-profile legal battle.
The byelection in Terrebonne was triggered after the Supreme Court nullified the previous federal election result. In that race, Liberal candidate Tatiana Auguste was declared the winner by a razor-thin margin of just one vote. The results were successfully challenged by Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné of the Bloc Québécois after a supporter came forward claiming her mail-in ballot had been improperly excluded from the count. The riding, traditionally a Bloc bastion, is now a critical battleground.
For the Mark Carney government, the stakes could not be higher. The Liberals currently hold a minority with 169 seats, just three shy of the 172 required for a majority. Should the party sweep all three ridings, it would secure a majority government, granting it significantly more leverage to pass legislation without opposition support. The Toronto vacancies were created earlier this year following the resignations of veteran MPs Chrystia Freeland and Bill Blair, who stepped down to pursue other opportunities.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has already signaled that his party will frame the campaign around affordability and the rising cost of living. Speaking on Parliament Hill, Poilievre asserted that the “number one issue” in these communities is that residents can no longer afford basic necessities like food. In a French-language address, he further warned that a Liberal majority would lead to worsening crime and inflation across the country.
The byelections come at a volatile time for Canada, as the nation grapples with the fallout of the Middle East war, surging global oil prices, and escalating trade tensions with the United States. The Conservative Party is expected to announce its candidates early next week, while Elections Canada has confirmed that advance voting will be held from April 3 to April 6.
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