New Agriculture Minister Kody Blois is among around 165 Liberal MPs that are projected to have won their seat in the 2025 federal election, as the party now led by Mark Carney rode an unprecedented swing in political popularity following Justin Trudeau’s departure to win a fourth consecutive mandate.
The final seat count is too close to call as of Tuesday morning.
Blois, who was appointed ag minister following Carney’s Liberal leadership victory in early March, handily won his Kings-Hants riding in Nova Scotia over the second-place Conservative candidate. He will be a frontrunner for the agriculture role in Carney’s post-election cabinet.
The Liberals also retained the Cardigan seat in PEI, which was occupied by former Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay for more than 36 years, up until his retirement in March.
Conservative shadow minister of agriculture John Barlow cruised to victory in his Foothills riding in Alberta, however Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is projected to lose his seat in the Ontario riding of Carleton.
Bloc Quebecois ag critic Yves Perron was also re-elected in the Quebec riding of Berthier—Maskinongé.
It appears the NDP’s most prominent agriculture voices will not be returning to Ottawa, as ag critic Richard Cannings did not run in the election and former NDP ag critic Alistair MacGregor is projected to have lost his Vancouver Island seat, based on preliminary vote counts. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh also announced his pending resignation after failing to hold his seat, as his party also failed to reach the 12-seat threshold for official party status.
More to come.
