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6d ago

Gladu Defects to Liberals, Putting Carney One Seat From Majority

Three April 13 by-elections could give the government the 172 seats needed to control the House.

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Prime Minister Mark Carney shakes hands with MP for Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong Marilyn Gladu in Ottawa, on April 8, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
iPolitics tagged along with Bloc Québécois MPs Mario Simard and Alexis Deschênes as they knocked on doors of a residential Terrebonne neighbourhood in support of candidate Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné.
Standing Committee on the Status of Women chair Marilyn Gladu speaks about a report on coercive behaviour, in the foyer of the House of Commons in Ottawa, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Overview

  • Marilyn Gladu, who left the Conservative caucus Wednesday, joined the Liberals and lifted their tally to 171 seats in the 343-seat House.
  • Special elections on Monday in University–Rosedale, Scarborough Southwest, and Terrebonne could push the Liberals to or beyond the 172-seat majority mark, with the two Toronto races widely viewed as favorable and Terrebonne competitive.
  • Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed Gladu and highlighted her background in engineering and international business as useful to jobs and industry.
  • Gladu said her constituents want “serious leadership” and a plan to build a stronger, more independent Canadian economy, and she argued she can deliver more from the government benches.
  • A majority would let the Liberals pass bills and rework committee lineups without support from other parties, reducing the need for tie‑breaking by the Speaker.