TORONTO, July 29, 2026 – Three vacant seats in Canada’s House of Commons now have a by-election date. Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that federal by-elections will be held on Monday, August 31, in Beaches—East York in Ontario, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord in Quebec, and North Vancouver—Capilano in British Columbia to elect new Members of Parliament.
All three by-elections have officially entered the election period. For residents in the Greater Toronto Area, the most directly relevant race is in Beaches—East York.
The seat was previously held by Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith. He formally resigned as a Member of Parliament in July, and Elections Canada received official notice of the vacancy for the riding on July 7. Erskine-Smith was first elected in 2015 and was re-elected in the 2019, 2021 and 2025 federal elections. He also served as federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.
The other two by-elections are in Quebec and British Columbia. Elections Canada received notice of the vacancy in Chicoutimi—Le Fjord on July 9, while the vacancy in North Vancouver—Capilano was officially confirmed on June 22.
With Carney officially announcing the voting date on July 26, all three ridings are now in the campaign period.
According to Elections Canada rules, to vote in these by-elections, residents must be at least 18 years old on election day, be Canadian citizens and live in the relevant riding. It is especially important to note that a voter’s home address must have been in the riding from July 26 and remain there at least until election day on August 31.
Voters also need to be registered. Elections Canada says most eligible residents are already included in the National Register of Electors, but people who have recently moved, changed addresses or are unsure whether they are registered can check and update their information through Elections Canada’s system.
Residents who cannot vote on August 31 have other options.
Advance voting in the three ridings will take place from August 21 to 24, over four consecutive days. Voters can also vote early at their local Elections Canada office or apply for a special ballot and vote by mail.
The deadline to apply to vote by mail is 6 p.m. on August 25. For voters applying from within their own riding, the deadline is based on local time. For voters who are outside their riding or applying directly to Elections Canada in Ottawa, the deadline is based on Eastern Time. Elections Canada reminds residents who want to vote by mail to apply early so there is enough time for the ballot to be received and returned before the deadline.
By-elections usually do not directly determine whether a federal government remains in power, but three races taking place at the same time will still serve as an important window into support for the major parties.
Beaches—East York had long been represented by Erskine-Smith, and with the personal advantage of an incumbent no longer in place, attention will turn to whether the parties can win over local voters again. Results in Chicoutimi—Le Fjord and North Vancouver—Capilano will also reflect how voters in different regions are responding politically after last year’s federal election.
For residents in the three ridings, the most practical step now is to confirm that voter registration and address information are correct and watch for the voter information card that will be mailed later. Those who cannot vote in person on August 31 can make arrangements for advance voting or voting by mail.（LJI by Yuanyuan）
