29 April: Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre has lost his long-held seat in Carleton, bringing an end to his almost two-decade tenure as the Member of Parliament for the Ottawa-area riding. Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy emerged victorious with 50.6% of the vote, receiving 42,374 ballots, while Poilievre secured 38,581 votes.
The unexpected result is likely to spark renewed discussion around Poilievre’s political future, despite the Conservative Party overall increasing its seat count and registering its highest national vote share since 1988. Meanwhile, the Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, retained power by winning enough seats to form a minority government, securing a fourth consecutive term.
Before the Carleton outcome was finalized, Poilievre addressed his supporters, highlighting the party’s overall electoral gains and affirming his intention to remain as leader. “We have much to celebrate,” he stated. “We’ve gained well over 20 seats and achieved historic support.”
Carleton was the only riding in Ottawa where a sitting MP lost their seat. Poilievre, first elected in 2004, had consistently held the riding, including a 2021 win with 50% of the vote. The loss comes after a hard-fought contest between him and Fanjoy, with both candidates engaging in intense local campaigning.
Following the result, Fanjoy expressed gratitude on social media, saying, “Thank you, Carleton. Together we can.” He emphasized his commitment to serving all constituents and fostering unity as their new Member of Parliament.
This year’s ballot in Carleton featured an unusually high number of candidates—91 in total—largely due to the efforts of the Longest Ballot Committee, a protest group pushing for electoral reform by encouraging independent candidacies. Elections Canada reported that 90 of the 91 candidates received at least one vote.
Voter turnout in Carleton reached 79%, one of the highest in the country. The riding also led in advance polling numbers, with nearly 44,000 votes cast during the Easter long weekend.
In addition to Fanjoy’s win, Prime Minister Mark Carney secured his own seat in the riding of Nepean, contributing to the Liberal Party’s ability to form government once again, albeit without a majority.
