• Voters in Markham–Stouffville re-elected Liberal Helena Jaczek, while neighbouring York–Durham elected Conservative Jacob Mantle.
  • Turnout in both local ridings exceeded the national average, reaching 68.83 percent in Markham–Stouffville and 71.08 percent in York–Durham.
  • Serving at the Federal level since 2019, Jaczek reversed her planned retirement following Justin Trudeau’s resignation.
  • Mantle, an Uxbridge native and international trade lawyer, captured more than 55 percent of the vote in York–Durham.
  • Nationally, the Liberals under Prime Minister Mark Carney are projected to form a minority government with 169 seats.
  • Elections Canada says results remain provisional, as advance and special ballots are still being counted in numerous close races.

 

In a night marked by variability and narrow victories, voters in the two Stouffville-area ridings delivered a split decision—re-electing Liberal Helena Jaczek in Markham–Stouffville and sending Conservative newcomer Jacob Mantle to Ottawa from York–Durham.

The Liberals, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, are currently projected to form a minority government. Carney won his first election handily in the riding of Nepean, solidifying his leadership following former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s departure.

Jaczek, who had announced her retirement plans in 2023, returned to the race earlier this year after Trudeau announced his plans to step down. A seasoned politician with more than 17 years of experience in both provincial and federal governments, including several ministerial roles, Jaczek previously worked as a physician at Women’s College Hospital and served in senior public health positions at York Region.

She captured an estimated 31,760 votes, or 51.4 percent of the ballots cast in Markham–Stouffville, defeating Conservative challenger Niran Jeyanesan, who garnered 27,898 votes (45.2 percent). Voter turnout in the riding stood at 68.83 percent, as 61,097 of 88,770 registered electors participated with all 217 polls reporting.

Mantle secured a decisive victory with 39,422 votes and 55.6 percent support in York–Durham. A native of Uxbridge, Mantle was the Township’s youngest-ever elected councillor and is currently a senior associate at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. Liberal candidate Robert Grossi finished second with 27,970 votes (39.5 percent), and 225 of 226 local polls have reported.

Both ridings saw voter participation rates above the national average. In York–Durham, turnout reached 71.08 percent, with 70,874 of 99,713 registered electors casting ballots.

Preliminary data shows 19,387,730 Canadians voted nationwide with 99.57 percent of all polls reporting—reflecting a turnout rate of 67.97 percent. The Liberals are projected to win 169 seats with 43.6 percent of the popular vote. The Conservatives followed with 144 seats and 41.3 percent, while the Bloc Québécois captured 22 seats (6.3 percent). The NDP and Greens secured seven and one seats, respectively.

Elections Canada has cautioned that final results remain provisional. Numerous races remain tight as the count of advance and special ballots continues, and turnout figures exclude those who registered on election day.

Carney, a former Bank of Canada governor and political newcomer, earned 63.8 percent of the vote in Nepean. Amid escalating trade tensions with the United States and President Donald Trump, his win marks a striking reversal of fortune for the Liberals. The party had faced daunting unpopularity at the close of Trudeau’s time in office.

In a dramatic development, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is set to lose his seat in Carleton, where Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy holds a lead of just under 4,000 votes with nearly all polls reporting. Despite the setback, Poilievre confirmed during his speech last night that he would remain as leader of the party.

The Carleton race was complicated by an unprecedented ballot featuring 91 candidates—85 of them nominated by electoral reform advocacy group Longest Ballot. The volume significantly slowed the vote count, which Elections Canada said has taken more than three times longer than in typical ridings.

Meanwhile, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh was defeated in Burnaby Central, placing third with just 18.2 percent of the vote. The party lost 18 seats, and Singh announced plans to resign once a new party leader is selected.

Neither Jaczek nor Mantle had responded to requests for comment at the time of publishing.

This piece was last updated at 13:03 EST on April 29, 2025. Cover image courtesy of Elections Canada.