In a dramatic political comeback, the Liberal Party led by Mark Carney is projected to form a minority government, Global News reports. While the final seat count is still pending as votes continue to be tallied in a handful of close ridings, the overall result signals a stunning turnaround for the Liberals.
This marks the fourth consecutive mandate for the party — an outcome that seemed nearly impossible at the start of 2025. Just months ago, the Conservatives were leading by over 20 points in national polls, and Justin Trudeau’s popularity had plummeted, prompting his eventual resignation.
But the political winds shifted following the re-election of U.S. President Donald Trump and the start of a new trade war with Canada. The Liberals, now under the fresh leadership of former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney, surged in the final stretch.
“I chose to enter politics because I felt we needed big changes in this country — but changes rooted in strong Canadian values,” Carney said during his victory speech Monday night. “My message to every Canadian is this: no matter where you live, no matter what language you speak, no matter how you voted — I will always do my best to represent everyone who calls Canada home.”
Despite the celebration, the minority status means Carney’s Liberals will need to collaborate with other parties — likely the NDP or Bloc Québécois — to pass key legislation and survive confidence votes, which are essential to avoid another early election.
As of Tuesday morning, Global News projects the Liberals will win 168 seats, falling short of the 170 needed for a majority. Carney secured his own riding of Nepean by a comfortable margin of over 21,000 votes.
The Conservatives will form the official opposition with 144 seats. The Bloc is projected to take 23, the NDP seven, and the Greens one.
In a major shakeup, both Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh lost their seats. Singh has since announced his resignation as party leader. Meanwhile, Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet and Green Party co-leader Elizabeth May both held their seats, although Green co-leader Jonathan Pedneault did not win his riding.
Elections Canada confirmed that counting of special ballots — such as those submitted by mail or outside voters’ home ridings — was paused overnight but resumed at 9:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday. Several close races may still trigger recounts, with fewer than 100 votes separating some candidates.
