By MONTREAL – Canada’s ruling Liberal Party suffered a significant setback in a Montreal by-election on Monday, losing a traditionally safe seat and intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership.
According to preliminary results released by Elections Canada on Tuesday, Liberal candidate Laura Palestini was defeated in the LaSalle-Emard-Verdun riding, finishing second to Louis-Philippe SauvĂ© of the separatist Bloc Quebecois. With all votes counted, SauvĂ© secured 28% of the vote, narrowly edging out Palestini’s 27.2%, while the New Democratic Party candidate garnered 26.1%.
The loss of this once-reliable Liberal stronghold, held to replace a departing Liberal legislator, underscores the growing challenges facing Trudeau after nearly nine years in office. The Prime Minister’s popularity has waned significantly, with the Liberals now trailing far behind the right-of-center Conservatives in national polls.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has capitalized on widespread discontent over rising living costs and a housing crisis, issues for which many voters blame Trudeau’s government. A recent Leger poll showed the Conservatives commanding 45% of public support – an unusually high level in Canadian politics – compared to just 25% for the Liberals.
Despite mounting pressure, Trudeau maintains he will lead the Liberals into the next federal election, which must be held by October 2025. However, cracks are beginning to show within party ranks. Last week, Liberal MP Alexandra Mendes, representing a Quebec constituency, publicly acknowledged that many of her constituents want Trudeau to step down.
The Liberals’ struggles were further evident in a second by-election held in Elmwood-Transcona, Manitoba, where the party’s share of the vote plummeted to 5% from 15% in the 2021 general election. The New Democratic Party retained the seat.
These results mark a stark contrast to the Liberals’ performance in the 2021 general election, where they won the Montreal seat with 43% of the vote, far ahead of their rivals.
Poilievre has promised to eliminate the federal carbon tax, which he claims is exacerbating affordability issues, and recently pledged to cap immigration until more housing can be constructed. The Conservative leader, known for his confrontational style, has also vowed to defund the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the country’s public broadcaster.
As the next federal election approaches, Liberal strategists admit the polls look grim but say they plan to intensify efforts to portray Poilievre as aligned with the Make America Great Again movement of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Montreal by-election loss follows a similar defeat in a Toronto riding in June, adding to a string of setbacks for Trudeau’s Liberals. As the party grapples with these challenges, questions about Trudeau’s political future are likely to persist and intensify in the coming months.
REUTERS
