Prime Minister Carney calls six federal byelections for December

Prime Minister Mark Carney has called byelections for six federal ridings to be held on December 7. The contests in Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan will give the governing Liberals a chance to bolster their thin majority in the House of Commons. The prime minister's office announced the byelections on Sunday. The Liberals currently hold a majority with 173 seats, and losing all six races would not affect their ability to govern, but wins would strengthen their ranks.

Three of the byelections are in Quebec. The riding of Laurier, Sainte-Marie, a Liberal seat vacated by Steven Guilbeault, will see former Desjardins CEO Guy Cormier run for the Liberals against New Democrat Nimâ Machouf and Bloc Québécois candidate Zumretay Arkin. In Rosemont, La Petite-Patrie, a former NDP stronghold left vacant by Alexandre Boulerice, Liberal human rights advocate Jean-Sébastien Vallée will face Bloc candidate Alexandre Curzi and New Democrat Pierre Céré. The Saint-Hyacinthe, Bagot, Acton riding, previously held by the Bloc Québécois, will feature former CAQ MNA Chantal Soucy for the Liberals, former diplomat Caroline Émond for the Bloc, and former Montreal Alouettes player Luc Brodeur-Jourdain for the Conservatives.

In Ontario, voters in Scarborough North will choose a successor to former Liberal MP Shaun Chen, who stepped down citing health issues and later won a seat on Toronto city council. The Liberals are running former Toronto District School Board trustee James Li in that riding. The Brantford, Brant South byelection follows the resignation of Conservative MP Larry Brock, who accepted a position at the Brantford Crown Attorney's office. The Liberals have nominated Joy O'Donnell, president of the Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant, while the Conservatives have appointed Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis as their candidate.

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The Conservative appointment of Davis in Brantford, Brant South has caused some local friction. After the party bypassed a nomination contest, longtime Conservative Dave Carroll announced he would run as an independent candidate, which could draw votes away from Davis. The Conservatives may also face a challenge in holding the Saskatchewan riding of Yorkton, Melville, a longtime party stronghold vacated by Cathay Wagantall. The Liberals are running Aaron Kienle there against Conservative Nelson Pohl.

In a tweet on Sunday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre urged Canadians to choose a different path, saying his party's plan would save money, protect jobs and reform the immigration system. The byelections were triggered after MPs left the House of Commons for diplomatic appointments, provincial politics or retirement. Since the 2025 election, 13 of 343 members of Parliament have stepped down. The prime minister must call an election between 11 and 180 days after a member's resignation. The Green Party has confirmed Martin Grenier will run in Saint-Hyacinthe, Bagot, Acton and Valerie Brooks in Yorkton, Melville, while nominations remain open in several other ridings. The NDP has not yet announced candidates for Scarborough North, Brantford, Brant South or Yorkton, Melville. Another riding, Parry Sound, Muskoka, will soon be vacant as Conservative MP Scott Aitchison has said he will officially step down at the end of the fall sitting, setting the stage for a future byelection.

With files from The Canadian Press, iPolitics and CBC News