Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Liberal Party faced a surprising defeat in the by-elections held in its long-held Toronto-St. Paul constituency on Tuesday, as reported by CBC News.
Conservative candidate Don Stewart’s victory is notable because the Liberals have maintained control of this seat for over three decades, even during challenging electoral cycles such as the 2011 federal election, which saw only 34 Liberal MPs elected to Parliament.
Prior to this election, a Conservative candidate had not posed a serious challenge in Toronto-St. Paul’s since the 1980s.
In a closely contested race, Conservative Don Stewart, a consultant, secured victory with around 42 percent of the vote, narrowly edging out Liberal candidate Leslie Church, a former Parliament Hill staffer and lawyer, who garnered nearly 40 percent of the votes.
The Liberal Party’s setback in a historically strong constituency prompts reflection for Trudeau amidst public discontent over inflation, rising living costs, high housing prices, and increased immigration levels, according to CBC News.
This unexpected Conservative win may cause apprehension within the Liberal ranks, as such shifts in voting patterns could potentially jeopardize other traditionally safe seats in the upcoming general election.
Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett, who won by a substantial margin in 2021, saw Church lose by approximately two percentage points this time. If this trend extends to other ridings, many Liberal MPs could face tough challenges in the next election.
An analysis by CBC News indicates that about 55 Liberal MPs won their Ontario ridings with narrower margins compared to Bennett’s previous election results in Toronto-St. Paul’s.
Justin Trudeau responded to the election results, acknowledging the public’s “concerns and frustrations.” He emphasized the need for his team to continue working hard to deliver visible progress for Canadians.
“While this was not the outcome we hoped for, I want to assure you that I hear your concerns and frustrations,” Trudeau stated in a released statement, declining to take questions from reporters.
“These are challenging times, and it’s clear that my team and I have much more work ahead to achieve tangible results that Canadians can see and feel,” he added.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, reacting to the outcome, called on Trudeau to consider an early election, asserting, “Trudeau cannot continue in this manner. He must call an election on the issue of carbon tax now.”
Trudeau, despite declining approval ratings currently at a historic low of 30 percent, remains committed to leading the Liberal Party into the forthcoming elections, which are anticipated to take place next year.
