Canada is gearing up for a crucial byelection night on April 13, with three federal races set to potentially reshape the political landscape. Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal government is aiming to secure a majority in the House of Commons, and these byelections could be the key. The byelections are being held in Scarborough Southwest and University-Rosedale in Toronto, and Terrebonne, north of Montreal.
The Toronto ridings became vacant following the resignations of prominent Liberal MPs. Bill Blair stepped down as the MP for Scarborough Southwest to become Canada's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Chrystia Freeland, formerly representing University-Rosedale, departed to serve as an advisor to the Ukrainian President and CEO of the Rhodes Trust. In Terrebonne, the byelection was triggered after the Supreme Court of Canada annulled the result of the 2025 federal election due to irregularities with mail-in ballots. The initial result saw Liberal Tatiana Auguste win by a single vote over Bloc Québécois candidate Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné.
The Liberals currently hold 171 seats, just shy of the 172 needed for a majority. Winning both Toronto ridings would bring them to that threshold, but because the Speaker of the House typically only votes in case of a tie, the Liberals would still need support from at least one opposition member to pass legislation. This puts extra focus on the Terrebonne race, where a Liberal victory would give them a more comfortable majority.
Advance polls have already closed, with Elections Canada estimating that nearly 38,000 votes were cast. Terrebonne saw the highest turnout in advance polls. The results of these byelections will be closely watched across the country, as they could significantly impact the balance of power in Ottawa and the future direction of Canadian politics.
