Trudeau: ‘More Work to Do’ After Party’s Latest By-Election Loss in Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed a serious setback for his party after the ruling Liberals lost a by-election, sparking concerns about his leadership as they approach the next federal election.

The Liberals faced a significant defeat when the Bloc Quebecois claimed victory in LaSalle-Emard-Verdun, a district in Montreal that was once a party stronghold. The by-election, which took place on Monday, was marked by a tight contest among three parties, with the Bloc candidate securing the win amidst a close race against the New Democratic Party (NDP).

Trudeau commented on the loss in Ottawa, stating, “Obviously it would have been nicer to be able to win…but there’s more work to do.” He emphasized the necessity for Canadians to understand the choices they will have in the upcoming election, reiterating his intention to engage more with voters.

According to the results from Elections Canada, Bloc candidate Louis-Philippe Sauve received 28% of the vote. The Liberals’ candidate, Laura Palestini, closely trailed with 27.2%, finishing only 248 votes behind the winner. The NDP garnered 26.1%, placing about 600 votes behind.

This loss marks the second time in just three months that the Liberals have failed to secure a seat they previously held, following a narrow defeat in the Toronto-St. Paul’s riding to the Conservatives in June. Previously, the Liberals had dominated in Toronto and nearly swept all the seats on the Island of Montreal in the last election.

Political analysts are deeming this outcome a significant setback for Trudeau’s party. Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University, stated that the results were unexpected, especially given the historical strength of the riding for the Liberals. He noted that the party not only failed to win but did so with a dramatic decline in popular votes compared to their performance in 2021.

Andrew Perez, a veteran Liberal strategist, expressed his frustrations on social media, referring to the loss as “yet another nail in Justin Trudeau’s coffin.” He warned that if the Liberals are unable to defend such a safe seat, it could lead to dire consequences for their future in Quebec and throughout Canada.

Despite the mounting pressure, Beland does not foresee Trudeau stepping down as party leader before the next scheduled election in the fall of 2025. “Some Liberals might try to convince him to step down, but it’s not clear that he would agree,” Beland remarked.

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne weighed in on the situation, acknowledging the “concern” and “anxiety” among the electorate. He expressed optimism, stating, “I think if there’s someone who can really inspire Canadians, it’s Justin Trudeau.”

Current polling shows the Conservatives leading significantly ahead of the Liberals, and Trudeau continues to face unpopularity among many Canadians. Adding to the complexity of the political landscape, the NDP recently terminated their supply and confidence agreement with the Liberals, which had previously kept the minority government in power, raising speculations of an early federal election.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre stated that his party intends to present a non-confidence motion “at the earliest possible opportunity,” hoping to challenge the Liberal government further. However, neither the NDP nor the Bloc has indicated whether they would support the move to topple the government.

Beland added that the possibility of an early election remains uncertain. “It appears that only the Conservatives are eager for a federal election right now, meaning the Bloc or the NDP might still opt to support the Liberals during the next confidence vote,” he explained. To maintain its position, the Liberal government would only require the backing of one of these opposition parties.

In a separate by-election held on the same day, the NDP managed to hold onto its seat in Winnipeg, defeating the Conservative candidate by a margin of 1,200 votes. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh celebrated this victory on social media, labeling it as a significant achievement for his party.