In a surprising political turnaround, the Liberal Party of Canada, led by Mark Carney, is set to form a minority government, securing a fourth consecutive term. This comes after a national election was called just nine days following Carney’s swearing-in as Canada’s 24th prime minister.
As of 4 p.m. EDT, Elections Canada reports the Liberals are leading or elected in 169 seats—three short of the 172 required for a majority in the newly expanded 343-seat House of Commons. To remain in power, the Liberals will need support from at least one other party.
In his early morning victory speech, Carney vowed to “think big” and lead a government that unites and represents all Canadians. Throughout the campaign, the Liberals emphasized protecting Canadian sovereignty in the face of rising trade tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, particularly around tariffs.
Major Defeats for NDP and Conservatives
Both NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre lost their ridings, and neither will return to Parliament. Singh, whose party was reduced to just seven seats—below the threshold for official party status—announced his resignation in an emotional speech in British Columbia.
Poilievre, who had focused heavily on affordability issues, conceded the election early Tuesday morning. He lost his Carleton (Ontario) seat to Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy but has suggested he may remain active in politics.
Bloc and Green Party Struggles
The Bloc Québécois also saw a decline, dropping 11 seats to hold 22. The Green Party’s co-leader Elizabeth May retained her seat in Saanich–Gulf Islands, but co-leader Jonathan Pedneault finished last in his Quebec riding. The Greens’ only other MP, Mike Morrice, lost in Kitchener Centre.
Carney’s Rapid Rise
Carney’s political career skyrocketed after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former finance minister Chrystia Freeland resigned amid plummeting approval ratings. Carney, a former central bank governor, easily won the Liberal leadership with 85.9% support.
His first act as prime minister was scrapping the consumer carbon tax, a key point of Conservative criticism. Poilievre attempted to link Carney to the policy with the nickname “carbon tax Carney.”
Carney also played a high-profile international role, flying to Europe ahead of the campaign to discuss escalating tensions with the Trump administration. During the campaign, he imposed retaliatory tariffs and warned against Trump’s aggressive trade stance, including rhetoric suggesting Canada should become the U.S.’s “51st state.”
While early polls showed the Conservatives with a strong lead, the gap narrowed significantly in the final weeks, ultimately resulting in a Liberal victory.
