Six Upcoming By-Elections Likely to Be Staggered, Carney Signals
Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated that the six by-elections needed to fill current and future vacancies in the House of Commons are unlikely to all be held on the same day. Speaking in French, Carney said he has not yet finalized the timing of the by-elections but will need to weigh several factors, including Quebec’s provincial election scheduled for October 5.
Resignations Mount Across Party Lines
Two MPs Step Down Immediately
British Columbia Liberal MP Jonathan Wilkinson and former Bloc Québécois MP Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay both officially resigned their seats last week. Wilkinson is set to travel to Brussels to begin his new role as Canada’s ambassador to the European Union. Savard-Tremblay had been sitting as an independent MP after announcing his intention to run for the Parti Québécois in the upcoming Quebec provincial election.
Former Liberal Cabinet Ministers Plan Summer Departures
Former Liberal cabinet ministers Steven Guilbeault and Nathaniel Erskine-Smith have both stated their intention to vacate their seats this summer, though neither has provided a firm date. Guilbeault resigned from cabinet last fall in protest over Carney’s agreement with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to build a new oil pipeline to the Pacific coast. He announced in May that he was leaving politics entirely after the deal was finalized.
Erskine-Smith announced earlier this year that he intended to seek the Ontario Liberal leadership but was unable to secure the provincial party’s nomination for an upcoming Ontario by-election. He recently told the Toronto Star he was considering running for a seat on Toronto City Council.
Additional Resignations on the Horizon
Alexandre Boulerice, a former NDP caucus member who currently sits as an independent MP representing a Quebec riding, is also expected to resign in order to run in the Quebec provincial election under the Québec Solidaire banner. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall announced she will resign her seat on August 31, having previously indicated she does not plan to seek re-election.
By-Election Timeline and Parliamentary Implications
Under Canadian electoral rules, a by-election cannot be called earlier than 11 days after the Speaker of the House notifies the Returning Officer of a vacancy. Once called, the vote must take place within 180 days. By-election campaigns must run for a minimum of 36 days and cannot exceed 50 days in length.
Carney noted that if the six by-elections are not completed before the House of Commons returns in September, the Liberal Party would still maintain a slim majority of seats, providing a buffer during the transition period.
