Prime Minister Mark Carney’s careful march to a majority has reached the coda. With three by-elections set for Aug. 31, the Liberals can put to rest the rumblings about their majority status and earn the halo of legitimacy.
These by-elections are about both seats and symbolism because of the unprecedented way Carney came to have a majority in the first place: five floor-crossings and a trio of byelection wins. Never before has a Canadian government leapt from minority to majority status outside of a general election. While impressive as a political act, the patchwork approach invited skepticism, even hostility. Is this a true majority government, or a sleight of hand?
