Blow to Trudeau: Conservatives Seize Stronghold From Liberals in Key By-Poll to Canadian Parliament

Ottawa: In a stunning blow to Canian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his Liberal Party lost a closely-watched federal by-election on Tuesday to Conservatives from a longtime Liberal stronghold, prompting opposition leer Pierre Poilievre to demand a snap election.

In a nail-biting finish, Conservative candidate Don Stewart won Liberal stronghold of Toronto-St. Paul's by defeating Liberal Party's Leslie Church by 590 votes. contest also featured Amrit Parhar, an Indian-origin candidate from New Democratic Party.

Toronto-St. Paul's is a federal electoral district in Toronto, Ontario province. Liberal Party h held Toronto-St Paul's since 1993. It is one of 338 seats in House of Commons.

  Stewart's victory over Church is shocking because seat has been held by Liberals for more than 30 years, Canian media commented.

Before Monday, seat was held by Liberals for 10 successive elections. Former MP Carolyn Bennett — whose appointment as ambassor to Denmark triggered byelection — h been local representative for over 25 years.

"Thank you, Toronto-St. Paul's! I am beyond humbled for trust you have put in me and I will never take it for granted. I promise to be YOUR voice on Parliament Hill," Stewart posted on X.

His rival, Church in her remarks after she lost race, noted that Liberals have got 16 months until next election. "I plan to be Liberal candidate in St. Paul's. We start working to earn back trust of voters...," she posted on X.

"Congratulations to Don Stewart on a well run campaign. We look forward to rematch," she wrote.

According to preliminary results, Stewart won 42.1 per cent of vote with 15,555 votes cast for him, while Church received 40.5 per cent of vote, with 14,965 ballots cast for her. NDP candidate Parhar came a distant third with 10.9 per cent of votes. Christian Cullis, who ran for Green Party, received 2.9 per cent of votes.

Losing historic stronghold is likely to pile pressure on Prime Minister Trudeau, Global News reported.

" Liberals' poor showing in a stronghold like this could prompt some soul-searching for Trudeau, who has seen his popularity plummet as inflation, cost of living crisis, high home prices and surging immigration levels drive voter discontent," CBC News commented.

This Conservative upset is likely to le to some anxiety in Liberal caucus because such a dramatic vote swing could put or supposedly "safe" seats in play for Conservatives in next general election, expected to be in 2025, it said.

Conservative Leer Poilievre demanded Prime Minister Trudeau call a snap election after what he described as a “shocking upset” on social media Tuesday.

“Here is verdict: Trudeau can’t go on like this. He must call a carbon tax election now,” Poilievre wrote on X.

Voters in Toronto-St. Paul's told CBC News throughout campaign that government's handling of housing crisis, inflation and Israel-Hamas conflict were sore spots.

But it wasn't just about issues — several voters expressed a desire for change and fatigue with Trudeau.

Even past and present Liberal supporters told CBC News Trudeau should resign as leer if party loses this one-time ruby-red Liberal seat.

Trudeau, whose allegations in September last year of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in killing of a Sikh separatist in Cana caused a severe strain in Ottawa's relations with New Delhi, has given no indication he's stepping down.

52-year-old prime minister has repeatedly said he will le Liberal Party into federal election that is expected sometime next year.

Meanwhile, national polling shows Trudeau's Liberal Party struggling to attract and retain support, with Conservative support growing.  A poll conducted by Ipsos for Global News suggested Trudeau’s waning popularity appears to be “dragging” Liberals’ fortunes down.

A majority of voters (68 per cent) want him to step down, with Ipsos CEO Darrell Bricker describing numbers as “close to rock bottom,” while Conservative Leer Poilievre, 45, is gaining ground.

That poll put Conservatives at 42 per cent of decided vote, with Liberals at 24 per cent. Almost half - 44 per cent - said y felt Conservative Leer Poilievre would make best prime minister, while 75 per cent of Canians want anor party to take government from Liberals.

Just 25 per cent think Liberals “deserve reelection,” Global News reported.