OTTAWA — Nearly one year after the spring election that led to the election of his minority government, Prime Minister Mark Carney now has his majority.
Now what?
Monday evening’s byelection results — with the Liberals retaining two Toronto-area seats — coupled with the stunning floor-crossing of Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu to Carney’s ranks last week, pushed the Liberals solidly into majority government territory. Another byelection on Monday, in Quebec’s Terrebonne riding, could add to the Liberal margin if the party can fend of a fierce challenge from the Bloc Québécois.
Also …
‘It’s time to get serious,’ Carney says after byelection sweep delivers him a majority government
Prime Minister Mark Carney says he will use his newly won majority to push through legislation that the opposition parties have stymied in recent years, saying his immediate focus will be quickly passing affordability measures and a bill designed to turbocharge home construction.
The Liberal candidates in two Toronto ridings trounced their opponents in Monday’s byelections, improving on the party’s already strong showing in both seats at the last general election. The party also won a closely fought contest in Terrebonne, a Montreal-area riding that has long been a Bloc Québécois stronghold.
Carney framed those victories, particularly the one in Quebec, as a strong endorsement of the government’s agenda.
