OTTAWA – Former New Democrat Doly Begum completed her political transformation Monday night by securing another seat for her new party in the House of Commons in a byelection in the Toronto-area riding of Scarborough Southwest.
Her opponents included Conservative candidate Diana Filipova and NDP candidate Fatima Shaban.
Begum represented Scarborough for more than seven years as a member of the Ontario legislature and served as deputy leader of the provincial NDP.
Acknowledging her previous public service work in her victory speech Monday, Begum said: “tonight is different.”
“I am so proud of the family, the coalition that we’ve built here,” she said.
“We have to do the hard work of building — building a country where opportunity is real, where dignity is protected and where every single person has a fair chance to succeed.”
Dozens of people — many wearing red and some waving Canadian flags — gathered at the Qssis Banquet Halls in Scarborough to cheer on Begum. The crowd chanted her name as the final results rolled in.
From 2015 until February, the riding was held by Liberal MP Bill Blair. He resigned earlier this year to serve as Canada’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom after serving in several cabinet positions, including minister of national defence and minister of public safety and emergency preparedness.
Prime Minister Mark Carney congratulated Begum on her win on social media Monday.
“Doly has fought fiercely and effectively to build a better future for her community, and her tireless voice and experience will help build a stronger and more just Canada for all,” he said.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said on social media that he looked forward to working with Begum on Parliament Hill.
“Congratulations to Doly Begum and to the people of Scarborough Southwest — a show of confidence in Doly, Mark Carney, and the Liberal team to deliver the results Canadians want,” he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2026.
— By Catherine Morrison in Ottawa and Diana Mussina in Toronto
