Why this matters: six vacant seats will be filled on a single December day, and the results will test the governing Liberals' majority and the opposition's momentum heading into a new parliamentary session.
November 1, 2026 — Prime Minister Mark Carney has called six federal byelections for December 7, 2026, giving voters in three Quebec ridings, two Ontario ridings and one Saskatchewan riding a chance to elect new members of Parliament.
Image: Illustration of a Canadian ballot box with a maple leaf and Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Credit: Red Eye Eagle News / AI illustration.
Editor's Highlight: The six races will not decide who governs Canada, but they will show whether the Liberals can defend and extend a majority they only recently secured, or whether opposition parties can turn local contests into a national signal.
Table of Contents
- Key Facts
- The Six Ridings
- Why the Seats Are Vacant
- What Is at Stake
- How and When to Vote
- Bottom Line
- FAQ
- Sources
Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Announcement | November 1, 2026, by Prime Minister Mark Carney |
| Voting day | Monday, December 7, 2026 |
| Number of ridings | Six, across three provinces |
| Quebec ridings | Laurier—Sainte-Marie, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton |
| Ontario ridings | Brantford—Brant South, Scarborough North |
| Saskatchewan riding | Yorkton—Melville |
| Advance polling | November 27, 28, 29 and 30, 2026 |
| Who can vote | Canadian citizens aged 18 or older on election day, living in one of the six ridings |
The Six Ridings
In Quebec, voters will go to the polls in Laurier—Sainte-Marie, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie and Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton. In Ontario, the ridings are Brantford—Brant South and Scarborough North. In Saskatchewan, the contest is in Yorkton—Melville.
According to reporting by The Canadian Press, the seats were previously held by a mix of parties. The Quebec seats were held by the Liberals, the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Bloc Québécois respectively.
The same report says the Conservatives held the seats in Yorkton—Melville and Brantford—Brant South, while the Scarborough North seat belonged to the Liberals.
| Riding | Province | Previously held by |
|---|---|---|
| Laurier—Sainte-Marie | Quebec | Liberals |
| Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie | Quebec | NDP |
| Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton | Quebec | Bloc Québécois |
| Brantford—Brant South | Ontario | Conservatives |
| Scarborough North | Ontario | Liberals |
| Yorkton—Melville | Saskatchewan | Conservatives |
Why the Seats Are Vacant
A byelection is held when a House of Commons seat becomes vacant between general elections, so that riding is not left without a representative.
The Canadian Press reports that the vacancies in this round followed members of Parliament leaving the House for diplomatic appointments, provincial politics or retirement.
The same report notes that, since the 2025 election, 13 of the House's 343 members have decided to step down. That turnover is the backdrop to a busy byelection calendar, not a single isolated departure.
Analysis Note: Byelections are often read as a mid-term report card, but they are also a practical matter: until December 7, six ridings have no member of Parliament to raise their concerns in Ottawa.
What Is at Stake
The Canadian Press reports that Carney's Liberals currently hold a majority after winning three byelections earlier this year. Six more seats therefore matter less for survival than for the size of that majority.
For the Conservatives, the two seats they previously held test whether they can defend their own ground. For the NDP and the Bloc Québécois, holding one Quebec seat each would protect their footholds.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre responded on Sunday by asking Canadians to choose a different path, saying, according to The Canadian Press, that his party's plan will save money, protect jobs and reform the immigration system.
Practical Takeaway: Watch the margins, not just the winners. A governing party that holds its seats comfortably sends a different signal than one that holds them narrowly, and the same is true in reverse for opposition gains.
The results will also land just before a new parliamentary session, so the winners will arrive in Ottawa with a fresh mandate.
How and When to Vote
Elections Canada, the independent agency that runs federal elections, says voters can cast a ballot on election day, Monday, December 7, at their assigned polling station.
Advance polling days are Friday, November 27; Saturday, November 28; Sunday, November 29; and Monday, November 30. Voters can also vote early at their local Elections Canada office until Tuesday, December 1 at 6 p.m.
Mail-in voting is also available, but voters must apply by December 1 at 6 p.m. and return the ballot by the deadline in their voting kit, or in person before polls close on election day.
To vote, a person must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old on election day, and living in one of the six ridings from November 1 to December 7. Voters must be registered and show proof of identity and address.
Elections Canada says safeguards cover voter identification, ballot security and a transparent counting process.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | Byelections announced; residency period begins |
| November 27–30, 2026 | Advance polling days |
| December 1, 2026, 6 p.m. | Deadline for mail-ballot applications and early office voting |
| December 7, 2026 | Election day |
Bottom Line
Six ridings, three provinces, one voting day: the December 7 byelections will fill empty seats and give voters a say in the balance of the House.
What to watch next is the campaign itself — which candidates each party nominates, how national issues feature in local debates, and whether the results widen or narrow the Liberals' majority.
FAQ
When are the byelections?
The six federal byelections will be held on Monday, December 7, 2026. Advance polling runs from November 27 to November 30.
Which ridings are voting?
Laurier—Sainte-Marie, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie and Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton in Quebec; Brantford—Brant South and Scarborough North in Ontario; and Yorkton—Melville in Saskatchewan.
Why is a byelection needed?
A byelection fills a seat in the House of Commons that has become vacant between general elections, so residents of that riding have a member of Parliament again. The Canadian Press reports these vacancies followed departures for diplomatic appointments, provincial politics or retirement.
Who is eligible to vote?
Canadian citizens who are at least 18 years old on election day, are registered to vote, and have lived in one of the six ridings from November 1 to December 7, 2026. Voters must also show proof of identity and address.
Will the results change who governs Canada?
No single round of this size decides the government, and The Canadian Press reports the Liberals currently hold a majority. The results can, however, change the size of that majority and the momentum each party carries into the next session.
Sources
- Prime Minister of Canada — "Prime Minister Carney announces by-elections" (November 1, 2026): https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2026/11/01/prime-minister-carney-announces-elections
- The Canadian Press, via Europe Says — "Prime Minister Mark Carney calls six federal byelections for December" (November 1, 2026): https://www.europesays.com/canada/273939/
- Elections Canada, via CNW — "Federal by-elections now under way" in the six ridings, including voting dates and eligibility rules: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/federal-by-elections-now-under-way-in-brantford-brant-south-laurier-sainte-marie-rosemont-la-petite-patrie-saint-hyacinthe-bagot-acton-scarborough-north-and-yorkton-melville-898481189.html
- CBC News, Power & Politics — "Will Canadians get behind Canada's pursuit of associate membership in the EU?" (video discussing upcoming byelections and fundraising): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC2KHglDAVE
- Red Eye Eagle News — AI illustration for the hero image (original illustration, created for this article).
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