- Canadian Tories narrowly won the Toronto-St Paul’s seat from the Liberals with just over 500 votes
- The seat had been held by liberals for 30 years
- Stewart received around 42% of the vote, with 15,555 ballots cast for him
- Liberal candidate Leslie Church garnered 14,965 votes
- Cost of living crisis amongst other pressures have seen Justin Trudeau‘s popularity wane
Conservatives heap pressure on Trudeau with by-election win
The Conservatives have narrowly won the Toronto-St Paul’s seat from the Liberals in a significant political upset, increasing pressure on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Conservative candidate Don Stewart secured victory by just over 500 votes, a result Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre called a “shocking upset.”
In response, Trudeau acknowledged Canadians’ “concerns and frustrations.” The loss is seen as a major embarrassment for Trudeau, as the Liberals had held the seat for 30 years. Political expert Alex Marland noted the significance of the Conservative victory in an area historically dominated by Liberals.
Stewart received around 42% of the vote, with 15,555 ballots cast for him, while Liberal candidate Leslie Church garnered 14,965 votes. The result became clear early Tuesday morning after a closely contested tally.
Trudeau’s popularity has waned since he became PM in 2015, with issues like cost-of-living pressures contributing to his decline. A recent Ipsos poll indicated that 68% of Canadians want Trudeau to step down. However, Trudeau has pledged to lead his party into the next election, expected by October next year, marking his fourth run for prime minister.
The Conservative victory in Toronto-St Paul’s signals potential vulnerabilities for the Liberals in future elections, suggesting they could lose in other traditionally strong areas.