The Canadian Liberal party has triumphed in a fourth consecutive term, signifying an incredible political resurgence for the party and a significant victory for Mark Carney, an ex-central banker and newcomer to politics, as he gears up to confront US President Donald Trump.
As results from Canada’s Atlantic provinces, as well as crucial Quebec and Ontario, streamed in on Monday evening, Liberal supporters at the party’s election-night gathering erupted in cheers. The national broadcaster CBC reported that the Liberals had secured or were leading in enough seats to prevent any other party from forming a government.
It remains uncertain whether the Liberals have obtained sufficient seats for a majority government. In the event of a minority government, Carney’s party would require the backing of political rivals to govern effectively. Following a narrow victory in the previous federal election, the Liberals previously relied on the support of the left-wing New Democratic party to pass legislation.
This victory marks a remarkable rehabilitation for the Liberal party, which was once on the verge of electoral disaster. Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, served as prime minister for nearly a decade, but the latter part of his tenure was marred by challenges, infighting, and disillusioned voters.
Up until the end of 2024, internal discussions within the Liberal party were bleak, with the most optimistic scenarios suggesting they could only hope to contain the Conservatives to a minority government. Outright victory was not on their party’s radar.
“We were practically deceased in December, but now we’re going to form a government,” stated David Lametti, a former Liberal Justice Minister, on CTV late on Monday. “We’ve turned this around thanks to Mark,” he added.
However, the defeat for the Conservatives marks a disappointing conclusion to an election they had eagerly anticipated for months. Under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre, the Tories had appeared almost certain to form a government over the past two years.
Within weeks of Trump’s threats and Carney’s emergence as the new Liberal leader, the party’s 25-point lead vanished. Coming so close to victory only to lose will likely trigger a somber post-election analysis and internal strife within the Conservative party.
For Carney, who assumed the role of prime minister for a mere nine days before calling a snap election, the gamble was one that could make history for the party. However, the prospect of losing would have seen him inherit the title of Canada’s shortest-serving prime minister.
“I observed how Carney handled himself, and I felt he was truly a man who rose to the occasion,” said Ian Laroque, a campaign volunteer residing in Carney’s Ottawa electoral district. “He wasn’t a seasoned politician. But he’s the kind of leader we need at this moment – it’s not every day you get an economist amid an economic crisis.”
This vote was also unusual in another respect: for the first time in nearly 70 years, the two main parties were set to capture more than 80% of the vote between them. This reflects the collapse of smaller opposition parties, including the left-wing New Democratic party and the separatist Bloc Québécois.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/29/canada-election-result-liberal-win-mark-carney-anti-trump
