Liberals Prevail but with a Minority Government in Canada

Last week, Canadians went to the polls to elect new federal representatives in the House of Commons. Each riding in Canada elects a member (known as MP — Member of Parliament) in a first-past-the-post system. Whichever candidate gets the most votes is elected and serves in the House of Commons. Prior to the election, Liberals had a solid majority under leader Justin Trudeau. However, leading up to election day polls consistently showed a tight election between the Liberals and Conservatives. Ultimately, Liberals won a plurality but not enough seats to gain a majority. That means they’ll need to work with the New Democratic Party (NDP) or Bloc Quebecois to govern the House of Commons. Conservatives won the popular vote, marking the second time in Canadian history a party that won the popular vote will not govern.

Compared to before the election, Liberals lost seats and the Conservatives and the Bloc Quebecois gained seats. The Bloc Quebecois had a surge in popularity in Quebec, which surely hurt the liberals and potentially the NDP from gaining any more seats. The Green Party saw a small surge, gaining two ridings, and will have three representatives in the House of Commons. One independent, a former Liberal, won the election in British Columbia.

The geography of party standing by riding is similar to the U.S. in that liberal parties do well in urban and coastal areas while conservative parties do better in the middle of the country. Alberta and Saskatchewan, the Conservative strongholds of Canada, now have no federal representation from the Liberal party.

Data for Canada’s House of Commons is now live in the Cicero database. Take a look at the newly elected officials by entering your address in our free Elected Officials and Districts tool.