Canada election: Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre loses seat as Liberals form minority government

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre lost his seat in Canada’s federal election held on Monday, even as his party gained ground overall. According to Elections Canada, Poilievre was defeated in his Ontario constituency of Carleton by Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy.

The defeat came as the ruling Liberal Party, led by former central banker Mark Carney , secured 168 seats—falling just short of the 172 needed for a majority—but enough to form a minority government . Carney, who previously headed both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, is now set to take over as Prime Minister.

Despite losing his seat, Poilievre sought to strike an optimistic tone. “To my fellow Conservatives, we have much to celebrate tonight. We've gained well over 20 seats,” he said, acknowledging the party’s improved performance compared to the 2021 election. “We are cognizant of the fact that we didn't quite get over the finish line. Yet we know that change is needed, but change is hard to come by. It takes time.”

The Conservatives won 144 seats, marking a gain but falling short of forming government. The Liberals, who had been trailing in polls earlier this year, mounted a strong comeback in the final months of campaigning to retain power.