Mark Carney’s Liberals secure fourth term with minority government

Mark Carney will continue serving as Canada’s 24th Prime Minister with a Liberal minority government. During a speech early Tuesday morning, he vowed to “represent everyone” in the country.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, the Liberal Party has been elected in 169 of the 343 federal ridings. A majority government would have been formed if the party had secured 172 ridings, but the Liberals fell short by just three seats.

Elections Canada has nearly completed the ballot count, and are reporting a 68.6 per cent voter turnout. Recounts are expected in some ridings due to razor-close vote counts.

Carney won a seat in Nepean in his first time running for elected office. It will be the first time in more than 130 years that a sitting prime minister will represent an Ottawa riding.

“I chose to enter politics because I thought we needed big changes in this country, but big changes guided by strong Canadian values,” Carney said while addressing his supporters.

“No matter where you live, no matter what language you speak, no matter how you voted, I will always do my best to represent everyone who calls Canada home.”

The Prime Minister-elect’s platform centered around strengthening Canada’s economy, ensuring security in the face of a looming trade war and ongoing cost-of-living concerns.

READ MORE: 2025 Canada election results by riding: Hamilton, Halton, Niagara Region and more

Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party is expected to form the Official Opposition. Poilievre conceded the election early Tuesday morning, but still celebrated the gains made by the Conservatives as the final results rolled in.

“We have much to celebrate,” he said.

“Tonight we’ve gained well over 20 seats. […] We denied the NDP and Liberals enough seats to form a coalition government.”

A few hours after his concession speech it was declared that Poilievre lost his riding of Carleton in the Ottawa area. Shortly before 5 a.m., preliminary results showed Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy taking the riding with 50.6 per cent of the vote.

The loss ends the Conservative leader’s nearly two-decade run as a Member of Parliament in Carleton and will possibly raise questions about Poilievre’s leadership. It also marks the first time a Conservative leader has lost their seat since Kim Campbell in 1993.

Poilievre’s campaign took a tough on crime approach, promising to tackle crime rates and give police more power to dismantle encampments.

During the 36-day campaign trail, he also promised to build more affordable housing for Canadians and crack down on offshore tax loopholes.

By Tuesday morning the Bloc Québécois had secured 23 ridings. Despite losing a number of seats, it is set to hold the balance of power in Ottawa. The Liberals, meanwhile, have regained a strong representation in Quebec.

READ MORE: NDP strategist on how Jagmeet Singh could’ve improved campaign amid declining support

Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party (NDP) won seven seats – a significant loss compared to the 24 they secured last federal election. Twelve seats are required to secure official party status.

Singh came in third in his riding of Burnaby Central, B.C. and announced while fighting back tears that he would soon be stepping down as party leader. He was elected head of the NDP in 2017 and led the party through the 2019, 2021 and 2025 elections.

Speaking to his supporters with his family by his side, Singh said that it’s been the “honour of his life” representing Burnaby Central. He congratulated Carney on his projected win and admitted that it was a disappointing night for the New Democrats.

“He has an important job to do – to represent all Canadians and to protect our country and its sovereignty,” Singh said.

The Green Party – led jointly by Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault – won one riding.

May secured her B.C. riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands for a fifth term. However, Pedneault lost in his riding of Outremont in Montreal.

Former U.S. president Joe Biden has already offered his congratulations to Prime Minister Carney.

“I congratulate Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberal Party on their success in Canada’s election. I’m confident Mark will be a strong leader for the fundamental values and interests Canadians and Americans share,” he wrote in a statement late last night.

Keir Starmer, prime minister of the U.K., also commented on Carney’s win, saying the two countries will work together to deepen their economic relationship and that he welcomes Carney’s leadership on international issues.

Congratulations to @MarkJCarney on your election victory.

We will work together to deepen our economic relationship and deliver security for working people in the UK and Canada. pic.twitter.com/y4eTSesKUe

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 29, 2025

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy also congratulated PM Carney and the Liberal party, saying: “Ukraine deeply values our close ties with Canada and the unwavering support of the Canadian people.”

Ontario premier Doug Ford congratulated the Prime Minister and thanked Pierre Poilievre, Jagmeet Singh and “every candidate who put their name on a ballot for their service to our democracy.”

In a statement Ford said: “Ontario stands ready to work with the federal government to unleash our economy by cutting red tape so we can make Canada’s economy more competitive, resilient and self-reliant, capable of withstanding tariffs and whatever challenges may come our way.”

“Our government is also once again calling on the Prime Minister and the federal government to commit to real and meaningful bail reform to keep the public safe and take violent, repeat offenders off our streets,” Ford added.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) released a statement saying they look forward to working with Carney as Prime Minister – noting his commitment to upholding the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

“CAP shares [Carney’s] vision of a renewed relationship with Indigenous peoples and in particular, one rooted in the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership,” National Chief Brendan Moore said in a statement.

“The new Liberal Parliament presents an important opportunity to ensure Indigenous inclusion is both equitable and enduring.”

READ MORE: Conservative strategist analyzes Pierre Poilievre’s campaign for PM

The Prime Minister’s office confirmed that Mark Carney spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday afternoon.

“The leaders agreed on the importance of Canada and the United States working together – as independent, sovereign nations – for their mutual benefit,” the PM’s office said in a statement. 

“To that end, the leaders agreed to meet in person in the near future.”

This is a developing story. More to come.

READ MORE: Doug Ford says he looks forward to working with Carney’s Liberals at ‘crucial’ time