Listen to this article
Estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has called byelections in the Toronto ridings of University-Rosedale and Scarborough Southwest and the Quebec riding of Terrebonne — races the Liberals will want to win to secure a thin majority government.
The byelections will be held on April 13, according to a news release posted on the prime minister’s website Sunday morning.
Candidates will be looking to replace Chrystia Freeland — who stepped down after accepting a voluntary role advising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — and Bill Blair, who’s been appointed Canada’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom.
The Liberals have said family physician Dr. Danielle Martin will run in University-Rosedale. Former Ontario NDP deputy leader Doly Begum will run in Scarborough Southwest in a shocking defection.
Begum’s announcement in February rankled some members of the NDP, including interim federal NDP Leader Don Davies, who accused Begum of undermining democracy and argued her actions « breeds cynicism in our politics. »
Serena Purdy, a community organizer in the Kensington Market neighbourhood, will run for the NDP in University-Rosedale. She ran in the riding during the 2025 federal election and lost to Freeland.
Fatima Shaban, the NDP’s candidate for Scarborough Southwest, also ran for the party in the 2025 federal election and lost to Blair.
The Conservatives have not announced who will run under their banners in the three byelections.
In a news release, Elections Canada said voters in the area can cast their ballots on election day or vote in advance polls from April 3 to April 6 at their assigned polling station. If someone wishes to vote by mail, they must apply by April 7.
If they desire, voters can also cast their ballot anytime starting today if they go the Elections Canada office in any of the three ridings.
All eyes on Terrebonne
As things stand, the Liberals have 169 MPs in the House of Commons. They need 172 to form a thin majority government, making these three races vitally important for the party.
The most eventful race will likely be in Terrebonne. Last month, the Liberals were dealt a blow after the Supreme Court of Canada annulled the 2025 federal election result in the Montreal-area riding.
The electoral district was initially declared for Bloc Québécois Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, but a judicial recount later found Liberal Tatiana Auguste had won the seat by one vote. The two will go head-to-head again in April.
The Supreme Court of Canada has overturned a lower court ruling and annulled the results of the 2025 federal election vote in the Montreal-area riding of Terrebonne, which was won by the Liberal candidate by a single vote after a judicial recount.
Sinclair-Desgagné, called on the courts to annul the results and call a new election after CBC News reported that a voter had their mail-in ballot returned to them due to a misprint on the return envelope.
The voter, Emmanuelle Bossé, had marked her ballot for the Bloc.
Elections Canada acknowledged the error but said the results had already been finalized.
In October, a Superior Court judge rejected Sinclair-Desgagné’s call for a do-over, arguing that a postal code mishap amounted to « human error » and does not constitute an irregularity as defined under federal electoral law.
The top court overturned that ruling after hearing arguments in February.
The byelection in Terrebonne will also occur shortly after the Liberals’ national convention in Montreal, which is being held April 9 to 11.
Source:
www.cbc.ca