Carney secures majority with byelection sweep

TL;DR

Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals swept three federal byelections on April 13, turning their minority into a slim majority government.
Wins came in Toronto's University—Rosedale by Danielle Martin, Scarborough Southwest by Doly Begum, and Quebec's Terrebonne by Tatiana Auguste, reaching 174 seats.
This historic shift ends years of minority rule and lets Carney push economic and defence plans without opposition support.[[1]](https://www.thespec.com/thestar/politics/federal/mark-carney-gets-his-majority-government-with-toronto-byelection-victories/article_2ab2efd8-90d0-5d99-8dc6-5e83458ce51c.html)[[2]](https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/mark-carney-gets-his-majority-government-with-toronto-byelection-victories/article_1d0d249c-266e-425a-8650-106a9d654eae.html)

The story at a glance

Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal minority government became a slim majority after victories in three byelections held Monday in two Toronto ridings and one in Quebec. The winners were Dr. Danielle Martin in University—Rosedale, former NDP MPP Doly Begum in Scarborough Southwest, and Tatiana Auguste in Terrebonne. These results are reported now because the byelections filled vacancies from resignations and a court-overturned vote, combined with prior floor-crossings to give Liberals the edge needed in the 343-seat House.[[1]](https://www.thespec.com/thestar/politics/federal/mark-carney-gets-his-majority-government-with-toronto-byelection-victories/article_2ab2efd8-90d0-5d99-8dc6-5e83458ce51c.html)[[3]](https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/ontario-quebec-byelections-results-liberal-majority/article_686fc456-89b4-41a4-a9d6-17ff084be003.html)

Key points

Liberals now hold 174 seats, enough for a majority without relying on the Speaker's vote in most cases.[[4]](https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/liberals-return-to-parliament-with-majority-after-three-byelection-wins/article_6902a3d2-75c9-5caf-ad41-31ef1d60d38b.html)
The sweep marks the first time in Canadian history a government switched from minority to majority between elections, aided by five opposition MPs crossing the floor earlier.[[4]](https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/liberals-return-to-parliament-with-majority-after-three-byelection-wins/article_6902a3d2-75c9-5caf-ad41-31ef1d60d38b.html)
University—Rosedale and Scarborough Southwest were seen as safe Liberal holds in Toronto; Terrebonne was tighter after a prior one-vote Liberal win got overturned by court ruling.[[5]](https://www.thestar.com/politics/liberals-win-terrebonne-rematch-after-previous-one-vote-victory-overturned/article_976a8ee1-ca39-56d8-b460-bc7d4fc670f6.html)
Carney can now control House votes and committees more easily to advance a high-spending agenda on economy and defence amid global issues.[[1]](https://www.thespec.com/thestar/politics/federal/mark-carney-gets-his-majority-government-with-toronto-byelection-victories/article_2ab2efd8-90d0-5d99-8dc6-5e83458ce51c.html)
Doly Begum, ex-NDP Ontario deputy leader, cemented her federal Liberal switch with an easy win; Tatiana Auguste returns after her previous Terrebonne victory was voided.[[6]](https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/liberal-doly-begum-projected-to-win-byelection-in-scarborough-southwest/article_74ec5334-effe-4f71-971d-6dfe3fbd6029.html)

Details and context

The Liberals started with 171 seats after floor-crossings from Conservatives and NDP, leaving three vacancies that triggered these byelections and pushed them over the majority line of 172 (half of 343 plus one, excluding the Speaker).[[7]](https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/mark-carney-praises-former-conservative-mp-as-majority-inches-closer/article_2e317c66-0c7f-405e-a57e-17bfb3c2dcf6.html) This ends a run of minority governments since 2019, giving Carney breathing room without constant deal-making.

Terrebonne's race was a rematch; Liberal Tatiana Auguste took 48.4 per cent to Bloc Québécois candidate's 46.8 per cent, securing the clean sweep despite competition.[[5]](https://www.thestar.com/politics/liberals-win-terrebonne-rematch-after-previous-one-vote-victory-overturned/article_976a8ee1-ca39-56d8-b460-bc7d4fc670f6.html) The Toronto wins were straightforward, with Begum's background drawing note for bridging left-leaning voters.

Carney's push for majority built over nearly a year through these events, letting him govern with less daily uncertainty on key files like spending amid economic pressures.[[8]](https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/voters-head-to-the-polls-in-byelections-expected-to-hand-liberals-majority/article_2a330764-168e-5ccb-ade0-9e8c3f518012.html)

Why it matters

A stable Liberal majority strengthens Canada's position to tackle global economic turmoil and defence needs without parliamentary gridlock. For voters and businesses, it means smoother passage of budget measures and policies Carney prioritizes, though the slim edge leaves room for internal party tensions. Watch how Carney manages diverse new MPs like floor-crossers and if opposition pushes no-confidence votes, though his polling strength makes that unlikely soon.[[1]](https://www.thespec.com/thestar/politics/federal/mark-carney-gets-his-majority-government-with-toronto-byelection-victories/article_2ab2efd8-90d0-5d99-8dc6-5e83458ce51c.html)