Carney calls August byelections for 3 ridings in Ontario, Quebec and B.C.
Mark Carney has announced three federal byelections to be held on August 31 in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. These elections are critical for the Liberal Party as they attempt to maintain their technical majority in the House of Commons.
Why it matters
The outcome of these byelections will directly impact the legislative stability and majority status of the current Canadian government.
The byelections will be held on Aug. 31, according to a news release posted on the prime minister's website Sunday morning.
Candidates will seek to replace former Liberal MP Jonathan Wilkinson — now Canada's ambassador to the European Union — as well as former Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith and former Conservative MP Richard Martel, who has been appointed to the Senate .
The Liberals need to win one of the races to maintain control of the House of Commons. As things stand, the Liberals have 171 seats (not counting Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia).
By the time MPs return from the summer break in late September, the Liberals are expected to be sitting at 170 seats. That's because former Liberal cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault is stepping down Aug. 28.
Mark Carney calls for August byelections in 3 ridings
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