OTTAWA – The federal Liberals were lamenting the loss of another stronghold on Tuesday, while the NDP and Bloc Québécois celebrated byelection wins in Winnipeg and Montreal that both parties said were a rejection of the governing party.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his party has a lot to ponder after losing a seat in Montreal.
“Obviously, it’s never fun to come so close and not win a byelection,” Trudeau said in French a few hours after Elections Canada confirmed the Bloc Québécois win in LaSalle—Émard—Verdun on Tuesday morning.
Louis-Philippe Sauvé, an administrator at the Institute for Research in Contemporary Economics, beat Liberal candidate Laura Palestini by fewer than 250 votes. The NDP finished about 600 votes behind the winner.
“I think there’s all sorts of reflections to take,” Trudeau said, but he would not say whether the result puts his leadership of the party in question.
“We know that we have a lot of work to do to regain the trust of people, in LaSalle and people across the country, who are worried about the situation they find themselves in,” he said in French.
At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Sauvé told reporters he still needs to end his current job, saying he was cautiously optimistic about winning the riding.
The former Hill staffer pledged to have good constituency service, claiming Montrealers in Liberal ridings had turned to Bloc MPs after having shoddy responses.
Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet told reporters his party won by highlighting Quebecers’ concerns on issues like immigration and medical assistance in dying, an approach he said he’ll stick with in deciding how to vote on confidence measures in the House of Commons.
The Bloc has said it expects a more important role in Parliament since the NDP ended an agreement with the Liberals that had insulated the government from losing confidence votes. Blanchet said the NDP and Liberals have become “mutually toxic” electorally.
Blanchet said he now has a bridge between the party’s ridings outside the Island of Montreal and one in the city. He noted the riding is home to a large number of anglophones.
“As I always said, an English Quebecer is as much (of) a Quebecer as I am. And I would dream of some of them saying ‘This idea of a country is not such a bad idea; let’s think about that; let’s discuss this,’” he said.
It is the second time in three months that Trudeau’s party lost a stronghold in a byelection. In June, the Conservatives narrowly won in Toronto—St. Paul’s.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre tried to focus on the fact his party had a larger share of the vote in both byelections than in the last general election, even though the Tories finished a very distant fourth in Montreal and second in Winnipeg, which they had hoped to win.
“Canadians in the former Liberal strongholds of Toronto and Montreal have given their verdict,” he said in the Commons. “After nine years, this prime minister is not worth the cost.”
Ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting in Ottawa, Trudeau’s ministers put on brave faces and insisted they still support the prime minister, even as many acknowledged the tough road ahead.
“These are not the results that we were looking for,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.
She said there are “tough conversations” to be had, and that Montrealers were clear on the doorstep that the government needs to do more to make life more affordable.
Others stressed the need to be more vocal in criticizing the Conservatives.
“I think one of the things that we actually need to be more effective at is talking to Canadians about what the alternatives are,” said Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the Liberals have to connect with Quebecers.
“It’s not the Bloc that can block the Conservatives,” he said in French.
Champagne also argued Trudeau is the best person to deliver “a good dose of optimism” that the country needs.
Yet some Liberal MPs like Salma Zahid said the election result sends a message.
“It’s a loss; it’s sad to see that. And I think when people speak, we need to listen,” the Toronto MP said.
Montreal MP Sameer Zuberi agreed the party needs to adjust.
“Gaza specifically, the loss of life (…) was of primary concern to many residents and voters in the riding,” said Zuberi, who has called for his government to boost its advocacy for Palestinians, speaking in French.
Jagmeet Singh and the New Democrats had hoped to win in Montreal on the popularity of their candidate, city councillor Craig Sauvé, and use it to further the party’s goal of replacing the Liberals as the chief alternative to the Conservatives.
The NDP’s win in Elmwood—Transcona came at a much closer margin than in the last several elections, with Leila Dance beating Conservative Colin Reynolds by about 1,200 votes.
On Parliament Hill, Singh called the Winnipeg vote a rejection of “Conservative cuts” and a sign that “people are done with the Liberals.”
He said his party has momentum and was competitive in both races, despite placing third in the Montreal riding after numerous visits by Singh and his MPs.
Poilievre has not yet moved to table the non-confidence motion he has promised to bring against the Liberal government.
Both new MPs are set to attend caucus Wednesday morning on the Hill, their colleagues said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
— With files from Laura Osman.
