A political scientist said Mark Carney’s newly secured majority government is expected to bring more stability to Parliament but may not immediately change life for Canadians.
Yael Belanger, a political science professor at the University of Lethbridge, said the Liberals’ majority — secured after a trio of eastern byelections — gives the government full control over the House of Commons, its committees and the legislative agenda, allowing it to move forward with less resistance. He said this will also give the government greater authority to pass legislation without relying on opposition support.
“I honestly don’t think it’s going to impact Canadians good or bad in the short term,” Belanger said. “The House of Commons is going to run a little bit more smoothly because every bill is not going to have to be debated.”
Belanger said the government has already outlined key priorities, including affordability, energy exports, defence spending, immigration levels and improving primary care.
He added that the majority government could also strengthen Canada’s position in upcoming trade talks with the United States and Mexico under CUSMA, as it will allow officials at the negotiating table to make firmer commitments.
“We know that the government won’t collapse in mid-negotiation, which means that ultimately, we can continue to argue our point.”
The majority win comes just weeks before the one-year anniversary of Carney becoming prime minister, and Belanger said it is too early to judge the government’s performance, noting he is still relatively new in the role and leading a new cabinet.
“We can’t ally the new Carney government with that of the old Trudeau government. We have to ultimately start from scratch,” Belanger said. “After one year, the Carney government has done a decent job.”
Before the byelection wins, Belanger said there was a shift in Parliament that included MPs crossing the floor to join the Liberals, many from the Conservative party.
Belanger said that trend raises questions about the Conservatives’ internal direction and leadership under Pierre Poilievre.
“I believe at this point that even if Pierre Poilievre chooses not to resign, I believe that the party in the near future will make that decision for him,” Belanger said.
Looking ahead, Belanger suggested Canadian politics may be entering a less polarized phase, with Carney positioning himself closer to the political centre.
“Mark Carney is definitely not the traditional Liberal leader that we’ve been socialized to see,” Belanger said, adding his approach could appeal to voters who are politically undecided while creating uncertainty among more partisan voters.
Belanger said the government faces immediate pressure on both international and domestic fronts. He pointed to economic tensions with the United States as a key challenge, alongside housing affordability at home.
“Housing is a significant issue across Canada,” he said. “Rates of homelessness across Canada are significant. Housing precarity is becoming more of an issue.”
Belanger said those domestic concerns are closely tied to broader economic stability and should be a priority for the government as it begins its majority mandate.
