NATIONAL STORIES

Why voters across Canada are heading back to the polls for upcoming federal byelections

Multiple federal byelections are scheduled across Canada after 13 MPs resigned following the 2025 election. Key details and riding deadlines inside.

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Voters prepare for new parliamentary races

Voters in several Canadian ridings will soon head to the polls following the departure of 13 of 343 members of Parliament over the 17 months since the 2025 election. These vacancies emerged as representatives from four major parties stepped down to take on diplomatic posts, enter provincial politics, or retire.

Key upcoming riding contests

Byelection deadlines are determined by law, requiring the prime minister to schedule a vote between 11 and 180 days after a member resigns, with campaigns lasting between 36 and 50 days.

In Quebec, the riding of Saint-Hyacinthe-Bagot-Acton faces a deadline call of Dec. 16 following the resignation of Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, who rejoined the Bloc Québécois briefly to step down on June 19 to run for the Parti Québécois. In Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, former NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice resigned on Aug. 25 to run for Québec Solidaire, setting a call deadline of Feb. 21, 2027. Former environment minister Steven Guilbeault resigned his Laurier-Sainte-Marie seat on Aug. 28 after opposing the government’s Alberta pipeline deal, establishing a call deadline of Feb. 24, 2027.

Ontario ridings also face upcoming votes. In Scarborough North, former Liberal MP Shaun Chen stepped down on Aug. 15 due to health issues following a vehicle crash, setting a call deadline of Feb. 11, 2027. Brantford-Brant South MP Larry Brock formally resigned on Sept. 18 to return to the Crown attorney’s office, with a call deadline of March 17, 2027. Conservative MP Scott Aitchison plans to vacate his Parry Sound-Muskoka seat after the fall sitting concludes on Dec. 11.

In Saskatchewan, Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall retired from her Yorkton-Melville seat on Aug. 31, setting a call deadline of Feb. 27, 2027. Her party has already selected a prospective candidate.

Previous contest outcomes

The upcoming races follow seven byelections held earlier. In April, the Liberals won Terrebonne, University-Rosedale, and Scarborough Southwest, securing a majority government for Prime Minister Mark Carney. On Aug. 31, the Liberals gained three additional seats by flipping Conservative-held Chicoutimi-Le Fjord and retaining both Beaches-East York and North Vancouver-Capilano. The first post-2025 vacancy occurred in June 2025, when Damien Kurek resigned to allow Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to return to the House of Commons.

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NATIONAL STORIES

Search Continues After Ontario-Based Medical Flight Vanishes Near Massachusetts Coast

U.S. Coast Guard crews are searching near Nantucket for a missing Latitude Air Ambulance jet carrying four Canadians and two passengers from Bermuda.

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Emergency Search Underway Off Nantucket

Air and ground search teams are scanning waters approximately 150 kilometres southeast of Boston after a medical transport aircraft vanished early Saturday morning. Contact with the Gulfstream G100 jet was lost around 1:30 a.m. as it made its approach toward Boston from Bermuda, prompting a response from the U.S. Coast Guard following notification by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Flight Carrying Crew and Patients

The aircraft is operated by Hamilton-based Latitude Air Ambulance. According to Clarence Togeretz, operations manager for the company, six individuals were aboard the flight. The crew consists of two Canadian pilots and two Canadian medical staff members. They were transporting two Bermuda nationals, identified as a patient and a family member.

Response and Ongoing Inquiries

Togeretz confirmed that the company contacted American authorities after the plane failed to land on the tarmac as scheduled. He noted that this marks the first instance where the operator has lost contact with one of its aircraft, adding that the team is holding onto optimism while praying for a safe resolution. Latitude Air Ambulance has reached out to Transport Canada regarding the incident. Meanwhile, provincial air ambulance provider Ornge expressed support via social media, stating it hopes the aircraft and everyone on board are located safely and quickly.

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NATIONAL STORIES

Why Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre Questions Mark Carney’s New Pipeline Stance

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticizes Mark Carney’s pipeline proposal, calling him an illusion and questioning his shift on oil and gas.

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Poilievre Dismisses Carney’s Fast-Track Pipeline Proposal

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has expressed strong skepticism regarding Mark Carney, describing him as an “illusion” ahead of an upcoming major announcement. Poilievre questioned Carney’s recent backing of a proposal to fast-track and construct a West Coast pipeline project.

Contrasting Past Record with Recent Statements

Poilievre highlighted Carney’s history over the past decade, pointing out that the former banker worked to defund oil and gas, established an alliance aimed at shutting down the sector, opposed a Pacific pipeline, and advocated for higher carbon taxes.

“I don’t know how you can go in three years from believing oil and gas is going to end the world to believing you support oil and gas,” Poilievre stated. “I guess miracles are possible. He claims to have changed his mind but he hasn’t really changed the results. There’s been a lot of talk.”

Comparisons to Foreign Project Delivery

In assessing the situation, the Conservative leader observed that large-scale infrastructure projects are completed rapidly in nations like Germany and the United States.

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NATIONAL STORIES

Michael J. Fox Earns Canada’s Highest Civilian Distinction for Parkinson’s Work

Michael J. Fox was elevated to companion of the Order of Canada alongside 50 other honourees, including UBC engineering professor Yusuf Altintas.

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National Honours Presented at Rideau Hall

During an investiture ceremony on Friday morning at Rideau Hall, Gov. Gen. Louise Arbour formally elevated celebrated actor and advocate Michael J. Fox to the companion level of the Order of Canada, drawing a standing ovation from attendees. Rideau Hall cited his unflinching honesty and powerful global advocacy concerning Parkinson’s disease for the elevation. Fox, who publicly disclosed his diagnosis in 1998, has helped generate $2.5 billion for research into the progressive nervous system disorder, which causes tremors, slowness, stiffness, memory difficulties, and depression.

Distinguished Inductees Recognized Across Fields

A total of 51 individuals joined or advanced within the Order of Canada during the Friday event. Arbour praised the group in French for directing their skills, influence, and effort toward the public good rather than personal gain alone, noting that Fox serves as a shining example of using courage, imagination, and determination to foster lasting progress.

The newly honoured members and officers include noteworthy figures across various disciplines. University of British Columbia mechanical engineering professor Yusuf Altintas was inducted as an officer alongside McGill University professor Nada Jabado, who was recognized for her contributions to pediatric neuro-oncology. Former Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz became an officer for his efforts supporting international trade and economic stability. Sculptor Ruth Elsie Abernethy entered as a member for her worldwide bronze statues exploring heritage, gender, and nation-building, while Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Susanne Craig was named a member for her impactful reporting across major American and Canadian news outlets.

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