Canada’s ruling Liberal party has lost a traditionally secure seat in Montreal’s LaSalle-Emard-Verdun constituency, according to preliminary results released on Tuesday. The defeat, with Liberal candidate Laura Palestini coming in second to Bloc Quebecois contender Louis-Philippe Sauvé, could intensify calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign.
Elections Canada reported that Palestini garnered 27.2% of the vote, narrowly missing out to Sauvé, who secured 28%. The New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate trailed with 26.1%. This election was held to fill a vacancy left by a Liberal legislator who resigned.
The outcome places additional scrutiny on Trudeau, who has faced growing discontent after nearly nine years in office. Despite his insistence on leading the Liberals into the 2025 federal election, some party members, including Quebec MP Alexandra Mendes, have voiced their concerns, citing constituent dissatisfaction with Trudeau’s leadership.
In the 2021 election, the Liberals had dominated the Montreal seat with 43% of the vote, far ahead of the Bloc Quebecois and NDP. The recent shift reflects worsening conditions, including high living costs and a housing crisis, which critics argue have exacerbated public dissatisfaction.
Recent polls suggest a challenging future for the Liberals, with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre gaining significant support. Poilievre has pledged to eliminate the federal carbon tax and cap immigration to address housing shortages. Meanwhile, Trudeau’s team is preparing to counter Poilievre’s campaign by drawing comparisons to former President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.
