Carney Calls Special Elections         03/09 06:15

   

   TORONTO (AP) -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday called special 
elections for three districts that, if his party wins, would give the Liberals 
a majority government.

   The prime minister announced that votes will be cast on April 13 in the 
Toronto-area districts of Scarborough Southwest and University-Rosedale and in 
the Montreal-area riding of Terrebonne.

   The Toronto districts are considered to be safe seats for the Liberals, 
while Terrebonne is considered a toss up.

   The Liberals currently have 169 Members of Parliament in the House of 
Commons, but they need 172 to secure a majority government, which would allow 
them to pass any bill without the support of an opposition party.

   Three opposition Conservative Members of Parliament, Chris d'Entremont, 
Michael Ma and Matt Jeneroux, defected from their party to join the Liberals in 
recent months.

   Jeneroux referenced Carney's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos as 
helping him decide to join the Liberals. Carney condemned economic coercion by 
great powers against smaller countries and received widespread praise and 
attention for his remarks, upstaging U.S. President Donald Trump at the 
gathering.

   The Supreme Court recently nullified the Liberals' one-vote federal election 
win in Terrebonne after the Quebec-based Bloc Qubcois candidate challenged 
the results when a supporter complained she tried to vote by mail using a 
special ballot that wasn't counted.

   If the Liberals do win all three by-elections, House of Commons Speaker 
Francis Scarpaleggia would still need to cast tiebreaking votes to ensure the 
government's legislation passes.

   Carney has moved the Liberals to the center since replacing Justin Trudeau 
as prime minister in 2025 and winning national elections.