ANALYSIS: Liberals Hit With Another Byelection Upset as Opposition Parties See Little Motivation to Change Strategy

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet (R) and newly elected candidate Louis-Philippe Sauve smile as they speak to the media in Montreal on Sept. 17, 2024. The Bloc Quebecois won the Montreal Liberal stronghold riding of LaSalle-Emard-Verdun after an extremely tight three-way race with the NDP. The Canadian Press/Christinne Muschi

The leaders of the Bloc Québécois and NDP expressed satisfaction with their respective victories in the Sept. 16 byelections in Montreal and Winnipeg, but neither signalled a desire to expedite the fall of the minority Liberal government. The Liberals, meanwhile, have suffered the loss of another stronghold with the defeat in Montreal.

Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet said his party is “extremely happy” and “honoured” to win the LaSalle-Émard-Verdun riding, defeating the Liberals in their stronghold by a few hundred votes.