Will losing the party’s safest seat, which the federal Liberals have held for 31-years, in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul mean the end of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s long and largely disastrous reign? Judging from the initial comments by Trudeau on Tuesday, it seems like he wants to still use the summer to see if it can get worst but it does look like the Liberals under Trudeau are in big trouble as if the party can’t even win its safest seats then it has no chance in the general election and is looking at huge failure of low double digit seats at best or may be reduced to single digit seats as happened under Conservative Kim Campbell, who was trounced by Liberal maverick Jean Chretien with Tories reduced to just three seats. Early Tuesday morning, due to a very tight race and other issues such as having more than 70 no-name independent activist candidates on the ballot, the Conservative candidate Don Stewart was declared a winner by nearly 600 votes for Monday’s byelection, which is seen as a significant upset win against Trudeau’s Liberals.

By R. Paul Dhillon – Editor DESIBUZZCanada

With News Files

TORONTO – Will losing the party’s safest seat, which the federal Liberals have held for 31-years, in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul mean the end of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s long and largely disastrous reign?

Judging from the initial comments by Trudeau on Tuesday, it seems like he wants to still use the summer to see if it can get worst but it does look like the Liberals under Trudeau are in big trouble as if the party can’t even win its safest seats then it has no chance in the general election and is looking at huge failure of low double digit seats at best or may be reduced to single digit seats as happened under Conservative Kim Campbell, who was trounced by Liberal maverick Jean Chretien with Tories reduced to just three seats.

Early Tuesday morning, due to a very tight race and other issues such as having more than 70 no-name independent activist candidates on the ballot, the Conservative candidate Don Stewart was declared a winner by nearly 600 votes for Monday’s byelection, which is seen as a significant upset win against Trudeau’s Liberals.

Stewart pulled off the stunning upset, with 100 per cent of polls reporting his victory (42.1 per cent of the vote) over Liberal Leslie Church, who received 40.5 per cent.

The results flipped just before 4 a.m. when Tories jumped into the lead with just three polls left to be counted.

Church, who served as chief of staff to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, ran for the Liberals. Stewart, a financial and marketing specialist, ran for the Conservative Party of Canada. Amrit Parhar, a director with a non-profit, ran for the NDP, reported Canadian Press.

Parhar garnered 4,044 votes, or 10.9 per cent. Green Party candidate Christian Cullis earned 1,059 votes, or 2.9 per cent, while People’s Party candidate Dennis Wilson received 234 votes (0.6 per cent).

Many have viewed this race as the latest test of Prime Minister Trudeau’s leadership, which will likely raise additional questions about his future now that the Liberals have lost what was a stronghold for the party.

Trudeau released a statement on Tuesday afternoon, thanking Church and congratulating Stewart.

The loss of Toronto-St. Paul's - a longtime Liberal safe seat, could see calls for Justin Trudeau's resignation grow. But polling shows none of the potential candidates impress undecided voters.

 “This was obviously not the result we wanted, but I want to be clear that I hear your concerns and frustrations,” the PM wrote.

“These are not easy times. And it is clear, I and my entire team, have much more hard work to do to deliver tangible, real progress that Canadians can see and feel.

“We will never stop working and fighting to make sure you have what you need to get through these tough times. My focus is on your success and that’s where it’s going to stay.”

“Congratulations to Common Sense Conservative candidate Don Stewart on a shocking upset in Toronto-St. Paul’s, where people voted to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime,” Poilievre wrote on X.

“Here is the verdict: Trudeau can’t go on like this. He must call a carbon tax election now.”

Tuesday’s byelection results mark the first time a Conservative MP has won in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul’s since 1988.

Monday’s byelection was triggered by the resignation of Carolyn Bennett, a former cabinet minister and longtime Liberal Party of Canada representative, in January.

The seat was considered a must-win for Trudeau, and a loss is a massive blow that could be the final verdict before he steps down after 11 years as Liberal leader. The Liberals threw everything they had at the riding, with more than a dozen cabinet ministers knocking on doors for Church.

“The idea that the Liberals could lose a seat right in the heart of downtown completely shocked everyone,” said CityNews Parliament Hill reporter Glen McGregor. “I think it even shocked the Conservatives.”

The Conservatives hadn’t won a single seat in Toronto proper since 2011.

Courtesy Files from Canadian Press