Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party has suffered a significant loss in a special election in Montreal, increasing pressure on him to step down. The Liberals were narrowly defeated in the federal district of LaSalle-Émard-Verdun, marking their second loss in three months. Bloc Quebecois candidate Louis-Philippe Sauvé overtook Liberal candidate Laura Palestini for the seat.
Trudeau, now in his ninth year as prime minister, has seen his approval rating drop sharply, from 63% when he first took office to 28% in June. Polls indicate the Liberals could lose the next general election to the Conservative opposition.
Despite internal calls for his resignation, Trudeau has affirmed his intention to lead the party into the next election in October 2025. This Montreal by-election followed the resignation of former Liberal minister David Lametti, who had held the seat since 2015. Trudeau acknowledged the need for reflection on the loss, while maintaining a focus on serving Canadians.
In June, the candidates of the Liberals also lost a long-held Toronto seat to the Conservatives, adding to their challenges. The agreement with the NDP that sustained the minority government recently ended, potentially hastening the next election. Meanwhile, the NDP managed to retain a seat in a tight by-election in Winnipeg’s Elmwood-Transcona riding, after the resignation of MP Daniel Blaikie in March.
The NDP retained their stronghold in Winnipeg with 48% of the vote, while the Conservatives closely followed with 44% respectively. Although the Liberals were not expected to win this seat, their performance raised concerns, as their candidate only secured 5% of the vote, a significant drop from the 15% they received in the previous federal election.
In recent years, Canadian voters have grown increasingly frustrated with the government over issues such as rising inflation, housing affordability, healthcare, and immigration, which may be influencing voting trends.
