Former cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland has officially resigned from her seat in the House of Commons on Friday, reducing the Liberal government’s majority by one MP temporarily. This move further complicates the already dynamic situation in the House since December when MPs left Ottawa.
Freeland’s departure comes after the recent floor-crossing of former Conservative Michael Ma to the Liberal party, which had brought the government close to a majority. However, with Freeland stepping down, the Liberals are now one seat short of a majority.
Although Freeland’s riding traditionally leans Liberal, it is expected to remain vacant until MPs reconvene later this month. The process to fill the vacant seat involves the Speaker of the House notifying the chief electoral officer, triggering a period of 11 to 180 days for a byelection to be called.
The upcoming byelection could be held as early as March 2, as announced by Elections Canada. The significance of each vote in the current Parliament was underscored by the tight passing of the Liberals’ main budget motion last fall, a confidence measure crucial for the government’s stability.
Apart from Freeland’s departure, there are expectations of more byelections to be called soon. Prime Minister Mark Carney hinted at multiple upcoming byelections, without specifying the locations. B.C. MP Jonathan Wilkinson and Toronto MP Bill Blair, both former cabinet ministers, are reportedly set to take up diplomatic roles, potentially triggering byelections in their ridings as well.
Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux is also anticipated to vacate his seat in the near future. While there have been speculations of opposition MPs considering crossing the floor to join the Liberals, the dynamics in the House remain fluid as parties navigate the changing landscape.