Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party retained power in the country's federal election but was unable to form a majority government in Monday's (April 28) elections. The Liberals were leading or elected in 167 seats in the 343-member Parliament, followed by the Conservatives with 145. A party needs 172 seats to form a majority government.
In his first address after the victory, Prime Minister Mark Carney thanked Canadians for the mandate and vowed to build an independent future for the country, giving the slogan: "Canada strong, Canada free, Canada forever."
Conservative populist leader Pierre Poilievre conceded defeat but assured that he and his party will continue to question and hold the minority government accountable.
"We will always put Canada first," Poilievre told supporters in Canada's capital, adding: "Conservatives will work with the prime minister and all parties with the common goal of defending Canada's interests and getting a new trade deal that puts these tariffs behind us while protecting our sovereignty."
The election came months after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepped down earlier this year amid rising food and housing prices and soaring immigration.
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Jagmeet Singh quits as NDP leader Jagmeet Singh announced that he is quitting as the leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP) after he lost his own election to parliament and his party suffered a rout. The NDP was reduced to just seven seats out of the 343 contested, securing only two per cent of the vote share. In the previous election, the party had won 24 seats. "I am disappointed that we could not win more seats. But I am not disappointed in our movement. I am hopeful for our Party. I KNOW that we will always choose hope over fear," the 46-year-old leader responded to the defeat and stepped down as the party chief after eight years in charge. The Liberals under former PM Justin Trudeau relied on Singh's NDP to remain in power for four years. However, last September, the NDP became the last of Canada's three main opposition parties to break with Trudeau, with Singh accusing him of caving in to corporate greed. |
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Top updates >> Of the roughly 65 Indian-origin candidates in the fray, a record 24 won their seats, an improvement from their tally of 21 in the 2021 federal polls. Anita Anand and Bardish Chagger were among the winners. >> US President Donald Trump called Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to congratulate him on his election victory, and the two leaders agreed to meet in the near future. >> Indian PM Narendra Modi became one of the first world leaders to congratulate Mark Carney on his election win. He said: "India and Canada are bound by shared democratic values, a steadfast commitment to the rule of law, and vibrant people-to-people ties. I look forward to working with you to strengthen our partnership and unlock greater opportunities for our people". |
