Thetford Mines

Liberals win minority government, Poilievre loses seat

Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

editor@qctonline.com

Voters narrowly gave the Liberal Party of Canada a fourth mandate in the April 28 federal election. Radio-Canada called the race at 10:25 p.m., less than an hour after polls closed in most of Quebec, Ontario and the Prairies. As the online edition of this newspaper went to press, shortly before 3 p.m. on April 29, the Liberals (elected or leading in 169 seats, three short of majority territory) appeared headed for a minority government, with a Conservative Official Opposition (144 seats). Both the Bloc Québécois (22 seats) and a potential NDP-Green alliance (eight seats) could hold the balance of power. Prime Minister Mark Carney, running for office for the first time, won his seat in the Ottawa riding of Nepean.

In a generally gracious speech, Carney said he looked forward to working with MPs from all parties – “particularly Bruce Fanjoy,” the Liberal who defeated Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in his riding. He pledged to defend “humility, ambition and unity,” “recognize, correct and learn from” any errors he might make and govern “constructively” in partnership with provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples. He pledged to ensure that Quebec “thrives within a united Canada” and protect Canadian sovereignty, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump’s annexation allusions “are not idle threats.”

“If the Americans don’t want to lead, then we will. We’ll build millions of houses, become an energy power and build one economy, not 13,” he promised. “The next months and years will be difficult, but we will support Canadian workers and businesses. … We will fight with all we have to get the best for Canada.”

Poilievre lost the seat he has held in Carleton since 2004, but looked set to stay on as Conservative leader. “My goal will continue to be restoring the promise that anyone who works hard can have a nice, affordable house in a safe community,” he said, congratulating Carney on “a razor-thin minority government.” He didn’t address the result in his riding; Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus, re-elected in Charlesbourg–Haute-Saint- Charles, suggested another MP could step aside to let Poilievre run in a byelection.

The NDP lost 17 seats but avoided the complete collapse some polls predicted; NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh lost his seat to the Liberals and announced he would resign as leader once a successor was chosen. Green Party co-leader Elizabeth May was re-elected in Saanich–Gulf Islands, but the party won no other seats. In 2021, the Liberals won 160 seats, the Conservatives 119, the Bloc 32, the NDP 25 and the Greens two.

In Quebec City-area ridings, Liberal Jean-Yves Duclos won a fourth term in Québec-Centre, as did Liberal Joël Lightbound in Louis-Hébert. Conservative incumbents Gérard Deltell in Louis-Saint- Laurent–Akiawenhrahk, Paul-Hus in Charlesbourg–Haute- Saint-Charles and Joël Godin in Portneuf–Jacques-Cartier were easily re-elected. Liberal Steeve Lavoie defeated Bloc incumbent Julie Vignola in Beauport-Limoilou. In Montmorency-Charlevoix, Conservative newcomer Gabriel Hardy defeated Bloc incumbent Caroline Desbiens by less than 800 votes in a race that wasn’t called until Tuesday afternoon. 

Lightbound told reporters he was “very grateful” to the people of Quebec City. He said a Liberal government would continue to fund the tramway. “What I regret is that when the tramway [project] was announced in 2018, it was supposed to be built by 2026,” he said. “I think people are sick of going back and forth. Giving Quebec City a structured transit network is a must.”

“If we have a minority government, that’s the mandate we’ve been given, and every party has the obligation to make it work,” he added.

On the South Shore, Conservatives Jacques Gourde (Lévis-Lotbinière) and Dominique Vien (Bellechasse–Les Etchemins-Lévis) easily won re-election. In Beauce, Conservative Jason Groleau succeeded retiring Conservative Richard Lehoux, and People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier finished fourth in his home riding. In Mégantic- L’Érable-Lotbinière, which includes Thetford Mines, Conservative Luc Berthold was re-elected.

As of 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, six races around the country remained too close to call. 

With files from Kevin Dougherty