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Canadians are awaiting results from Tuesday’s election, which will determine whether Mark Carney’s Liberals have secured a majority or minority mandate from voters.
Early Tuesday morning, Elections Canada paused the counting of special ballots due to several ridings remaining too close to call.
At the time of the pause, the Liberals were either leading or elected in 168 seats, just four seats shy of a majority. Estimates suggest that the uncounted ballots could significantly impact the results in roughly a dozen ridings.
A majority government would empower the Liberals to enact legislation without requiring backing from other parties. Conversely, if the outcome reflects a minority, the Liberals will need coalition support to govern effectively.
Special ballots are utilized by voters who are away from their ridings during the election, allowing them to cast their votes by mail or at designated Elections Canada offices.
The counting is scheduled to resume at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Meanwhile, one notable riding remains outstanding: Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s seat. He was trailing behind his Liberal opponent, Bruce Fanjoy, who prematurely celebrated victory on social media.
“To all the people of Carleton, as your new member of Parliament, I’ll work to bring us together,” Fanjoy asserted. “We are all Canadian.”
In his victory address, Carney expressed a commitment to uniting the country, especially amid ongoing tensions with the United States. He emphasized the need for a government that serves the interests of all Canadians.
“Let’s put an end to the division and anger of the past,” Carney stated. “We are all Canadian, and my government will work for and with everyone.”
Despite the loss, Poilievre announced he would continue as Conservative leader, managing to quell discontent among the crowd by acknowledging Carney’s win.
“No, no, we’ll have plenty of opportunity to debate and disagree. But tonight we come together as Canadians,” Poilievre remarked. “We have to learn the lessons of tonight so that we can achieve an even better outcome in the next election.”
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In a significant turn of events, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh lost his Vancouver-area seat and announced his intention to step down as party leader once an interim successor is appointed.
“We may lose sometimes, and those losses hurt,” Singh expressed emotionally while flanked by his wife at a Burnaby, B.C. event. “We’re only defeated when we believe … those who tell us that we can never dream of a better Canada, a fairer Canada, a more compassionate Canada.”
Initial results indicate that several NDP MPs have also lost their seats, raising concerns about the party’s ability to retain official party status, which provides access to crucial research funding and increased questioning opportunities in Parliament.
With the election now concluded, Carney is poised for future discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump. The two leaders connected via phone in the election’s first week, agreeing to initiate talks on a new trade and security agreement post-election.
Trump’s influence was palpable throughout the campaign, with his threats of tariffs and provocative suggestions that Canada consider becoming a U.S. state making headlines.
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globalnews.ca