Date: August 30, 2026
Reporter: Kim White
Canadians in three federal ridings across British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec are preparing to cast their ballots on Monday, August 31, in byelections that could provide an important test of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government and the political mood across the country.
Voters in North Vancouver–Capilano in British Columbia, Beaches–East York in Ontario and Chicoutimi–Le Fjord in Quebec will choose new members of Parliament following vacancies created by the departure of the previous MPs. Elections Canada has confirmed that all three byelections will take place on August 31.
The contests are attracting national attention because the Liberal government’s parliamentary majority is at stake. The Liberals currently hold 171 seats in the House of Commons, while the Conservatives have 139 seats, the Bloc Québécois 21, the New Democrats five and the Green Party one. There is also one independent MP.
The Liberals need to win at least one of Monday’s three contests to maintain their majority position in Parliament, making the elections an important early test for Carney and his government. The prime minister called the byelections in July after three seats became vacant.
The election campaign has unfolded against the backdrop of continued economic uncertainty and tensions between Canada and the United States. The ongoing trade dispute with Washington, including tariffs and concerns about the impact on Canadian businesses and workers, is expected to be an important issue for voters.
In North Vancouver–Capilano, the Liberals are competing against the Conservatives, New Democrats, Greens, the People's Party of Canada and an independent candidate. The official candidate list includes Liberal Braeden Caley, Conservative Stephen Curran, NDP candidate Stephen Tweedale, Green candidate Shelley Luce, People's Party candidate Seyed Ehsan Arjmand Boroujeni and independent candidate Jeff Monds.
The British Columbia riding is particularly significant because of its political history and the strength of Conservative support in the region. The Liberals are hoping to retain the seat while the Conservatives are seeking to demonstrate that their support remains strong in suburban and metropolitan British Columbia.
In Ontario, voters in Beaches–East York will also face a competitive contest. Candidates include Liberal Tanveer Shahnawaz, Conservative Jim Syrbos, NDP candidate Shannon Devine, Green candidate Bruce Livesey, People's Party candidate Michel Lachance and Canadian Future Party candidate Cameron Thomas.
Beaches–East York has traditionally been a competitive Toronto riding, with progressive and urban political concerns playing an important role. Issues such as affordability, housing, healthcare, climate policy and the economy are expected to influence voters alongside the broader national debate over the government's performance.
The third contest is taking place in Chicoutimi–Le Fjord, Quebec, where the Liberals are facing a strong challenge from the Bloc Québécois and Conservatives. The candidates include Liberal Daniel Gobeil, Bloc Québécois candidate Caroline Dubé, Conservative Régis Gaudreault and NDP candidate Raphaël Émond.
Chicoutimi–Le Fjord is considered particularly important because the riding has historically been competitive. The seat was narrowly won by Conservative Richard Martel in the 2025 federal election, when he received 33.7 per cent of the vote compared with 30.8 per cent for the Bloc Québécois and 30.7 per cent for the Liberals. Martel has since become an independent senator, leaving the riding open for a new representative.
The Quebec contest could therefore become the most closely watched of the three, particularly because the Bloc Québécois is seeking to strengthen its position in the province while the Liberals attempt to maintain their parliamentary advantage.
The byelections also provide opposition parties with an opportunity to test their support only months after the federal election. For the Conservatives, the contests offer a chance to demonstrate that the party can make gains against the governing Liberals even as the government continues to enjoy a strong national position.
For the NDP and Green Party, the elections provide an opportunity to maintain or expand their presence in urban areas where progressive voters could influence the outcome.
The campaigns have also unfolded amid heightened public discussion about Canada's relationship with the United States. The trade dispute between Ottawa and Washington has become a central issue for the federal government, with businesses and workers watching closely for the impact of tariffs and other restrictions on cross-border commerce.
Carney's government has sought to emphasize Canada's economic resilience and efforts to diversify trade, while opposition parties have challenged the Liberals over the government's response to the American trade measures and the broader cost-of-living pressures facing Canadians.
The outcome of Monday's voting could therefore provide an indication of how voters are responding to the government's handling of those issues.
Advance voting has already taken place, allowing voters who could not or did not want to vote on election day to cast their ballots ahead of Monday's polls. Elections Canada has been providing information to voters in all three ridings as preparations for election day have continued.
Political parties have also spent the campaign attempting to mobilize their supporters and persuade undecided voters, knowing that byelections can be decided by relatively small margins because turnout is often lower than during a general election.
The political significance of the three contests extends beyond the individual ridings. A Liberal loss in all three could reduce the government's parliamentary cushion and provide opposition parties with momentum, while a Liberal victory in at least one riding would allow Carney's government to retain its majority.
A strong Conservative performance could also strengthen the party's argument that it remains capable of challenging the Liberals nationally, while a Bloc victory in Chicoutimi–Le Fjord would reinforce the party's influence in Quebec.
For Carney, the elections represent one of the first major opportunities since the federal government's earlier byelections to measure how voters are responding to his leadership and the direction of the country.
The Liberals previously strengthened their parliamentary position through three byelections held in April, after victories in Scarborough Southwest, University–Rosedale and Terrebonne helped Carney form a majority government.
Monday's vote will now test whether that momentum can continue.
With voters in three provinces preparing to cast their ballots, the focus will be on turnout, local issues, candidate strength and the ability of each party to mobilize supporters. While only three seats are being contested, the results could have consequences for the balance of power in Ottawa and provide an early indication of the political challenges facing the Carney government.
The polls will open Monday, August 31, with preliminary federal byelection results expected shortly after the polls close in each riding. Elections Canada has said the first results should begin appearing after approximately 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
For Canadians watching from across the country, the three byelections will offer more than the selection of three new MPs. They will provide a snapshot of voter sentiment at a critical moment for Canada's economy, its relationship with the United States and the political future of Mark Carney's Liberal government.