Carney Secures Majority After Liberal Wins

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has secured a parliamentary majority after his Liberal Party won all three special elections held on April 14 in Ontario and Quebec, according to multiple reports. Winning just one seat was enough to give Carney the ability to push through his legislative agenda without relying on opposition support.

The Liberals claimed victory in University-Rosedale, Scarborough Southwest, and Terrebonne. The party now holds 174 seats out of 343 in the House of Commons, solidifying Carney's grip on power until at least 2029 when national elections are due to be held next.

The majority will allow Carney to address key issues such as affordability and the economy more effectively. 'Tonight, voters have placed their trust in our new government's plan,' said Carney on social media. He also announced that Canada will suspend the federal fuel excise tax on petrol and diesel from April 20 to September 7 to help consumers cope with rising prices.

In addition to electoral gains, Carney has benefited from a series of defections by opposition members of parliament. Five opposition legislators have defected to the Liberals in five months, including longtime Conservative politician Marilyn Gladu. The Liberal Party secured University-Rosedale, previously held by former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland.

The results of the other two elections were still being counted. The Bloc Quebecois is in an extremely tight race with the Liberals in Terrebonne, Quebec. Recent polling from Nanos shows more than half of Canadians prefer Carney as their prime minister, with just 23% picking Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the Liberal Party for securing its majority not through voter support but rather through 'backroom deals'. He pointed to instances before Monday’s by-elections where politicians switched their party allegiance to the Liberals. Poilievre argued that Carney had focused more on political negotiations than on economic policy and that his government was seeking 'total power without accountability'.

Carney's victory comes amid rising fuel prices due to the Iran war, which prompted him to suspend the federal fuel excise tax as one of his first acts in response to this crisis. Carney described this measure as a “responsible, temporary measure” aimed at reducing costs for truckers and businesses.

Carney's government is notable for being the first in Canada’s history to transition from a minority to a majority between national elections. His rise to power has been influenced by public anger over U.S. President Donald Trump's annexation threats, with Carney vowing to reduce Canada's reliance on the U.S.

Carney's international presence and speeches, such as his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, have contributed to his popularity. In that speech, he condemned economic coercion by great powers against smaller countries, receiving widespread praise. Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, noted that Canadians appreciated Carney's reception at Davos and his efforts to forge new alliances and trade pacts.