Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberals have won a fourth straight federal election. However, they will once again form a minority government.
Out of 28 million registered voters, about 19.15 million cast their ballots in the 2025 election on 28 April, according to Elections Canada. This resulted in a voter turnout of 67.15%, up from 62.89% in 2021.
The Liberals secured 169 seats—three short of the 172 needed for a majority in the 343-seat House of Commons. In 2021, they won 160 seats and relied on a supply-and-confidence deal with the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Jagmeet Singh.
The Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, made strong gains. They increased their seat count from 119 to 144 and remain the official opposition.
A close result for the Liberals
This result continues a trend of minority governments for the Liberals. In 2015, under Justin Trudeau, the party won a strong majority with 184 seats. But since then, voter support has declined. In both 2019 and 2021, the Liberals formed minority governments.
Many opinion polls ahead of the 2025 election predicted losses for the Liberals. Some polls showed the Conservatives leading by as much as 25 percentage points in January. But under new leadership from Mark Carney, the Liberals defied expectations and held onto power.
Recent election history
Before Trudeau’s 2015 victory, the Conservatives governed Canada. In 2011, they won 166 of 308 seats under Stephen Harper, forming a majority. The NDP came second with 103 seats, while the Liberals dropped to 34.
In 2015, Trudeau led the Liberals to a comeback, winning 184 seats and forming a majority government. But in 2019, no party won a majority. The Liberals secured 157 seats, while the Conservatives won 121. The NDP continued to lose voter support.
In 2021, Trudeau called an early election, hoping to gain a majority after handling the COVID-19 crisis. But the result mirrored 2019. The Liberals ended up with 160 seats and again needed NDP support.
By September 2024, public dissatisfaction grew. The NDP withdrew its support deal, increasing uncertainty ahead of the 2025 vote.
Now, after their latest win, Mark Carney will continue as Prime Minister. If he reshuffles the cabinet, new ministers will be sworn in by the Governor General at Rideau Hall.
