Nate Erskine-Smith, a Liberal majority and Terrebonne: Your byelection questions answered

Politics reporter Ryan Tumilty answered your questions about the upcoming byelections and what the narrow majority could mean for Mark Carney’s Liberal government. Here’s what he said:

Q: “There’s been a lot of discussion about byelections and elections regarding who should be able to run as a candidate in a riding. Some believe the person ought to reside in the riding, others disagree. What do you think? What would be required (e.g. election act) to make this a legal requirement?” — Robert

A: “An election act change would probably just be the start, there would be legal challenges to any such change and I am not sure how you would handle currently elected MPs who live outside their ridings. Both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition currently don’t reside in their ridings. I think it is for voters to decide if they are comfortable voting for someone who doesn’t live in their ridings.” — Ryan Tumilty

Q: “Nathaniel Erskine-Smith has indicated that he would resign his Federal seat and run provincially in Scarborough Southwest if he is chosen as the Liberal candidate in the Ontario byelection to replace Doly Begum. What is the likelihood that this would happen, and what would be the impact on the federal Liberals?” — Todd

A: “If Nate Erskine Smith secures the Liberal nomination provincially he has said he would run and leave his federal seat as soon as an election is called. But he hasn’t even secured the provincial Liberal nomination yet. If he does leave federal politics however, the Liberals would have to hold onto that seat to hold onto their majority. The seat is considered a safe Liberal seat today, but the NDP have held it in the past so there is a chance they could secure it again.” — Ryan Tumilty

Q: “Who will win Terrebonne?” — Da

A: “Terrebonne is such a close riding that its really hard to say who will win this one. Keep in mind it was won by just a single vote in the last election and the people I have talked to all say it is too close to call. The Bloc held this riding for more than a decade prior to last year’s election. For the Liberals winning it by one vote is actually the best they have done in a long time. The Liberals’ polling numbers have improved in Quebec over the last year, which might suggest they could win it, but we really won’t know until all the votes are counted there.” — Ryan Tumilty

Q: “What do you think of the notion that, with so much talk of the Liberals getting a majority through these byelections, that the famously fickle voters in Terrebonne may be inclined to rally towards the Bloc as a counterweight to the government?” — Christopher

A: “Byelections in any province, not just Quebec, can produce unusual results. Voters often use byelections to send a message to the sitting government, but what the message is going to be in Terrebonne, we will have to wait and see.” — Ryan Tumilty

Check out Ryan’s full answers and more insights in the comment section of this story.