Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he will remain as leader of the Conservatives even though voters in his long-time Ottawa area riding failed to reelect him on election night.
Liberal newcomer Bruce Fanjoy captured Carleton by roughly 3,800 votes, ending Poilievre’s 21-year run as the local MP.
Final figures from Elections Canada put Fanjoy at about 50.6% support, with Poilievre trailing at 46.1%.
"To my fellow Conservatives, we have much to celebrate tonight. We've gained well over 20 seats," said Poilievre.
"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."
Overall, Mark Carney’s Liberals secured 168 seats, ahead of the Conservatives at 144.
The result leaves the Liberals shy of the 172 needed for a majority and sets the stage for another minority Parliament.
The loss was a personal blow for Poilievre, once viewed as a sure bet to become prime minister.
Poilievre had framed the campaign as a referendum on the “lost Liberal decade,” promising tax cuts and cheaper housing.
But a late Liberal surge, fuelled by concerns over Donald Trump’s trade war rhetoric and talk of annexation, blunted the Conservative message.
Fanjoy hammered those themes on the doorsteps, pitching himself as a steady hand focused on affordability and public service stability.
“People here wanted less noise and more results,” Fanjoy told reporters after his victory.
Without a seat, Poilievre must now lead his caucus from outside the Commons.
A deputy will take the daily parliamentary battles while Poilievre looks for a quick by-election opening.
An eye-popping 91 names crowded the ballot after an electoral-reform protest, driving turnout well above the national average.