OTTAWA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Voters in three key Canadian electoral districts on Monday headed to the polls for byelections after the April 2025 federal election, which analysts say may transform the Liberal minority government into a majority one.
The byelections are being held in Scarborough Southwest and University-Rosedale in Ontario, as well as Terrebonne in Quebec, according to a news release from Elections Canada.
To ensure a smooth voting process, the agency urged electors to visit assigned polling stations with valid identification and proof of address. Unregistered voters are permitted to register at the polls on-site.
Preliminary results of the election will be published "as soon as they become available," the agency said, noting that candidates have been permitted to send representatives to observe the ballot counting.
During the federal election last year, the Liberal Party, led by Mark Carney, secured 169 seats out of the total 343 seats in the 45th House of Commons, winning the election for a fourth consecutive term since 2015, but falling slightly short of 172 seats, the threshold for a majority mandate.
A series of recent "floor-crossings" in which opposition parliament members defected to join the government benches have lifted the Liberals' current seats to 171 in the House. Winning just one of the byelections would help the ruling party secure a majority government.
In Canada, a majority government allows the winning party to pass legislation easily and control House committees without needing support from opposition parties, providing stable governance. ■
