Residents in three federal ridings across Canada are heading to the polls today for byelections, with a particularly close race expected in rural Quebec.
One of the key contests is in Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, where Conservative Richard Martel vacated his seat to take a place in the Senate. Martel’s victory in a closely-fought race in 2025 by a margin of around 1,500 votes over his Liberal and Bloc Québécois rivals made this byelection a critical one to watch.
According to McGill University political science expert Daniel Béland, the outcome of this election could signal challenges for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre if they fail to secure the seat.
Simultaneously, byelections are also being held in Beaches-East York in Toronto and North Vancouver-Capilano, where former cabinet ministers Nate Erskine-Smith and Jonathan Wilkinson previously held office.
These byelections mark an important electoral moment for these ridings, as voters make their voices heard in shaping the political landscape.
Keyphrase: Canadian federal byelections
