Carney calls six federal byelections for December as Liberals seek to expand parliamentary majority

By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi & Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada

November 2, 2026

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has officially called six federal byelections for December 7, 2026, setting the stage for another important electoral contest as political parties seek to strengthen their positions in Parliament.

The announcement, made on Sunday, November 1, will see voters in six electoral districts across Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan elect new representatives to the House of Commons following the departure of their previous Members of Parliament.

The six constituencies involved are Brantford—Brant South and Scarborough North in Ontario; Laurier—Sainte-Marie, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie and Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton in Quebec; and Yorkton—Melville in Saskatchewan.

The upcoming elections are particularly significant for Carney’s Liberal Party, which currently holds 173 seats in the 343-member House of Commons.

Although the Liberals already command a parliamentary majority, the December elections provide an opportunity to increase their numbers and strengthen their position as the government pursues its legislative agenda.

Six vacant seats across three provinces

The six byelections have become necessary following resignations by MPs who have left federal politics for different reasons, including provincial political ambitions, professional appointments and retirement.

In Ontario, voters in Brantford—Brant South will elect a replacement for former Conservative MP Larry Brock, who resigned after accepting a position at the Brantford Crown Attorney’s office.

The riding has attracted attention following controversy surrounding the Conservative Party’s candidate selection process.

The party appointed Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis as its candidate without holding a local nomination contest, a decision that attracted criticism from some local Conservatives.

Dave Carroll, a pastor and longtime Conservative supporter who had sought the party’s nomination, subsequently announced that he would contest the election as an independent candidate.

The development could introduce an additional dynamic into the contest, particularly regarding the distribution of votes among candidates on the right of the political spectrum.

The other Ontario constituency is Scarborough North, previously represented by Liberal MP Shaun Chen.

Chen resigned in August, citing ongoing health-related concerns following a vehicle accident in October 2025.

The Liberals are seeking to retain the constituency with accountant James Li as their candidate.

Quebec faces three important electoral contests

Quebec accounts for half of the six byelections, with three constituencies expected to attract considerable political attention.

In Laurier—Sainte-Marie, the vacancy followed the departure of former Liberal MP and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.

Guilbeault resigned in August following a disagreement with Carney over environmental policy, bringing attention to differences within the Liberal government over Canada’s approach to environmental protection and economic development.

The Liberals have selected Guy Cormier, the former president and chief executive officer of Desjardins Group, to contest the seat.

His candidacy brings a prominent figure from Canada’s financial sector into the electoral contest.

The Bloc Québécois has nominated Zumretay Arkin, a former vice-president of the World Uyghur Congress, while the New Democratic Party (NDP) has selected epidemiologist Nima Machouf.

The second Quebec contest will take place in Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, where former NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice resigned to pursue provincial politics.

Boulerice subsequently won election as a member of Québec solidaire in Quebec’s provincial election.

The constituency is particularly significant for the NDP because it was the only riding the party won east of Manitoba during the 2025 federal election.

The Liberals are fielding human rights advocate Jean-Sébastien Vallée, while the NDP has nominated activist Pierre Céré.

The third Quebec byelection will take place in Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton.

The seat was previously represented by Bloc Québécois MP Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, who left federal politics to contest Quebec’s provincial election under the Parti Québécois banner.

He subsequently won a seat in the Quebec National Assembly.

The Liberals have selected former Coalition Avenir Québec provincial politician Chantal Soucy, while the Bloc Québécois has nominated Caroline Émond, a former director general of the International Dairy Federation.

These three Quebec contests will provide an opportunity to examine the electoral strength of the major federal parties in different parts of the province.

Saskatchewan presents a difficult challenge for the Liberals

The sixth byelection will take place in Yorkton—Melville, Saskatchewan, a constituency with a long history of Conservative representation.

The seat was previously held by Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall, who represented the constituency since 2015 before resigning in August 2026.

The Conservatives have nominated Nelson Pohl, a farmer and business owner, while the Liberals are running Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle.

The riding has historically favoured conservative candidates, making it a significant test for the Liberals as they seek to expand their presence in Western Canada.

The Liberals have not won Yorkton—Melville since the constituency was established in 1968.

In the 2025 federal election, Wagantall secured more than 77 per cent of the vote, demonstrating the scale of the challenge facing opposition parties in the constituency.

Whether the Liberals can make significant gains in the region will be one of the developments to watch on December 7.

Can Carney’s Liberals increase their parliamentary numbers?

Beyond the individual constituency contests, the byelections carry broader implications for the balance of power in Canada’s federal Parliament.

The Liberals currently hold 173 seats, giving them one more than the 172 required for a majority in the 343-member House of Commons.

However, the six vacancies do not place the government’s majority at immediate risk.

Even if the Liberals fail to win any of the six contests, they would retain their current 173 seats, provided there are no other changes in party membership or parliamentary composition.

Winning additional constituencies would nevertheless increase the government’s parliamentary representation and potentially provide greater flexibility when advancing legislation.

The December elections also come after a series of successful byelection campaigns for the Liberals earlier this year.

In April, the party secured victories in Terrebonne, University—Rosedale and Scarborough Southwest.

The Liberals subsequently recorded three more victories in the August 31 byelections, winning Beaches—East York and North Vancouver—Capilano while also taking Chicoutimi—Le Fjord from the Conservatives.

These victories, alongside the earlier decision by five opposition MPs to cross the floor and join the Liberal Party, helped Carney secure a parliamentary majority.

The upcoming contests therefore represent another opportunity for the governing party to consolidate its position.

Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives prepare to challenge the Liberals

The Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, will also be looking to use the byelections to challenge the governing Liberals and communicate its alternative political agenda.

Poilievre has urged Canadians dissatisfied with the government’s handling of economic issues to support his party.

Among the issues raised by the Conservative leader are the cost of living, housing affordability, fuel and grocery prices, employment and immigration policy.

The party will be seeking to defend its existing representation in Brantford—Brant South and Yorkton—Melville while also competing in other constituencies.

For the NDP and Bloc Québécois, the Quebec contests offer opportunities to maintain or recover parliamentary representation following the departure of their former MPs.

The results could also influence how the parties position themselves ahead of future federal political contests.

Another Ontario vacancy expected

While attention is currently focused on the six announced byelections, another potential vacancy is expected in Ontario’s Parry Sound—Muskoka constituency.

The riding is represented by Conservative MP Scott Aitchison, who has indicated that he intends to leave the House of Commons at the end of the fall parliamentary sitting.

Should the resignation proceed, another federal byelection would eventually be required to fill the seat.

This would add to the number of parliamentary vacancies arising since the 2025 federal election.

What happens before December 7?

Elections Canada has confirmed that the six byelections will take place on Monday, December 7, 2026.

Advance voting is scheduled for November 27, 28, 29 and 30, while voters who qualify can also cast special ballots through Elections Canada.

The deadline for candidate nominations is November 16, with the official list of confirmed candidates expected on November 18.

Eligible voters must be Canadian citizens aged 18 or older on election day and must reside in the relevant electoral district.

The December 7 results will determine who represents the six constituencies in the House of Commons and provide a fresh indication of how voters are responding to the major political parties.

For Carney, the elections present an opportunity to expand his party’s parliamentary representation.

For the Conservatives, NDP and Bloc Québécois, they offer an opportunity to challenge the governing party and defend their respective political positions.

As campaigning develops across the three provinces, attention will increasingly turn to the candidates, local concerns and issues likely to influence voters when they head to the polls.