Another byelection loss forces Liberals to face a tough reality

Failure to win Montreal riding reinforces party's sense of electoral weakness

- TONDA MACCHARLES

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's grip on a nervous Liberal caucus is weaker today.

The separatist Bloc Québécois stole a Liberal seat in suburban Montreal and Trudeau's ex-governing partner, the NDP, held onto a Winnipeg riding - results that will embolden Trudeau's internal critics, and gladden the hearts of his parliamentary opposition, just as the minority government opened a fall sitting in the Commons.

In both ridings, turnout was respectable for an off-cycle byelection, at around 39 per cent. In the end, Jagmeet Singh's NDP held onto a desperately needed Winnipeg seat, while Liberals saw their fears confirmed in a tight but clear Quebec loss.

It was close-only 248 votes separated the winning BQ candidate from the defeated Liberal candidate in LaSalle-Émard-Verdun.

That may help Trudeau fend off his critics a little longer. It could also prompt calls for a recount. But the trend is bad, and the Liberals know it.

On his way to a cabinet meeting Tuesday, Trudeau told reporters that "we are reflecting on how we are going to be able to increase (voter) participation so that people can understand that there's an important choice to be made in the next election."

"Obviously, it would have been nicer to be able to win and hold Verdun, but there's more work to do and we're going to do and we're going to stay focused on doing it."

The defeat in Trudeau's home province in a riding the Liberals have held since they came to power in 2015, much of which was represented for decades by former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin, is likely to increase calls by his critics to step down.