Carney Calls Six Byelections for December 7
Prime Minister Mark Carney has called byelections in six ridings across Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan, to be held on December 7.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Elections
Prime Minister Mark Carney called byelections for six ridings in Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan, with voting scheduled for December 7. The vacancies followed resignations and departures by several members of Parliament over recent months.
Why it matters
Winning the races would allow the Liberals to bolster their ranks in the House of Commons, where they currently hold a majority with 173 seats. For Canadian voters in the affected ridings, the contests will determine local representation in Ottawa.
Byelections will be held in six ridings on December 7, 2026, with the Liberals holding 173 seats in the House of Commons. Final candidate fields and results are not yet known.
The players
Mark Carney
Carney is the Prime Minister of Canada who issued the call for the six byelections.
Dave Carroll
Carroll is a former Conservative member who announced he will run as an independent in Brantford-Brant South.
The details
Carney announced the byelections through a news release sent Sunday morning. The vacancies include Scarborough North, where Shaun Chen stepped down in August citing health issues, and Brantford-Brant South, where Larry Brock resigned in September after accepting a position at the Brantford Crown Attorney's office.
Timeline
August: Shaun Chen stepped down from Scarborough North citing health issues.
End of August: Cathay Wagantall stepped down from Yorkton-Melville.
September: Larry Brock resigned as MP for Brantford-Brant South.
Sunday, November 1, 2026: Carney's byelection call was announced.
December 7, 2026: Byelections will be held in the six ridings.
Season Trajectory
These byelections follow a pattern of mid-mandate resignations that periodically reshape the House of Commons and determine whether governing parties can strengthen their majorities. The results in Brantford-Brant South, where a former Conservative is running as an independent, could also signal how split conservative votes affect outcomes in closely contested ridings.
Residents of the six affected ridings will choose new members of Parliament on December 7, 2026, shaping local representation in Ottawa. Voters should watch for candidate announcements in their areas, particularly in Brantford-Brant South, where an independent candidacy could affect the vote split.
The takeaway
Byelections in six ridings on December 7 will determine whether the Liberals strengthen their House of Commons position. Voters in the affected ridings should track candidate fields as they are confirmed.
What happens next
Candidate nominations and the December 7, 2026 byelection vote will determine the final representation in the six affected ridings.
Further reading
Follow the latest updates in Elections for Canada as candidates are confirmed ahead of the December 7 vote.
