Wednesday March 11, 2026 | OTTAWA, ON
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The Conservative Party of Canada has nominated candidates in two of the three federal by-elections set for April 13.
- Terrebonne: Adrienne Charles will be the Conservative candidate on the ballot in the Quebec riding of Terrebonne; she ran for the Conservatives in the spring 2025 election. That by-election was ordered after the Supreme Court annulled the Liberals’ single-vote win over the Bloc Québécois candidate — deemed as a result of ballot envelope misprinting.
- University-Rosedale: Don Hodgson will be the Conservative candidate on the ballot in the downtown Toronto riding of University-Rosedale. The former Member of Parliament in that riding was former cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland (who has gone on to be an economic advisor in Ukraine), which leads the Liberals to feel this is a safe Liberal seat.
- Scarborough Southwest: A Conservative candidate has not yet been named for the by-election in the suburban Toronto riding of Scarborough Southwest. The former Liberal cabinet minister Bill Blair previously held that riding (he has moved on to representing Canada in the UK), which leads the Liberals to feel this is a safe Liberal seat.
Timing:
The Conservative candidate announcements come the morning after another floor-crossing to the Liberals –this time an NDP MP who has joined the Liberal caucus (Nunavut MP Lori Idlout joined the Liberals last night). This leaves the NDP with just six MPs (12 are required for party status in the House of Commons).
Today NDP Interim Leader Don Davies told media that Liberal Prime Minister Carney is trying to “stitch together” a majority in Ottawa — something he is “increasingly concerned” about. Davies reiterates the NDP stance that voters should decide (e.g. through by-elections or elections).
Three Conservative MPs have — in recent weeks and months — left that party and joined the Liberals. Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont crossed from Conservative to Liberal in November, Toronto-area MP Michael Ma in December, and Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux just last month.
Today d’Entremont told media in Ottawa that voters elect a member of parliament to represent their riding, and that it’s up to any MP to make the best decisions for representing their constituents.
Liberals aiming for a majority:
Currently the Liberals have 170 seats (two short of a majority in a House of Commons with 343 seats).
Winning just two of the April 13 by-elections would put the Liberals into majority party status.
===== RELATED:
- NDP MP Lori Idlout crosses to the Liberals (March 10, 2026)
- Three April 13 federal by-elections could produce Liberal majority (March 8, 2026)
- NEWS SECTIONS: CONSERVATIVE PARTY | FEDERAL NDP | BY-ELECTIONS | CANADA-NATIONAL | LIBERAL PARTY