Saskatchewan Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall officially resigned from the House of Commons on Monday, marking her as the 10th MP to leave this year. Wagantall had announced her decision in June, stating that she would step down by the end of August. However, she did not provide a specific reason for her departure from the Parliament, where she represented the Yorkton-Melville riding since 2015.
Moreover, Ontario Conservative Larry Brock is also anticipated to resign within the month. Brock has represented Brantford-Brandt South-Six Nations since 2021 but plans to return to his former position as a Crown prosecutor. His decision adds to the list of resignations impacting the current political landscape.
The House of Commons is scheduled to reconvene on September 21. This upcoming session will feature three new Liberal MPs, who were elected in byelections held on Monday. These byelections were necessitated by previous resignations, with the Liberal Party successfully retaining two seats that were formerly occupied by cabinet ministers Jonathan Wilkinson and Nate Erskine-Smith.
Wilkinson had stepped down from his role to accept a diplomatic appointment as Canada’s ambassador to the European Union. On the other hand, Erskine-Smith initially intended to contend for the Ontario Liberal leadership but shifted his focus to municipal politics after losing a nomination contest related to a byelection in Toronto. He is now seeking a position on Toronto's city council.
Another significant change occurred in the riding of Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, which was represented by former Conservative MP Richard Martel. Following Martel's resignation for a Senate appointment in July, the seat has now transitioned to the Liberal Party after the latest byelection results.
The year 2023 has witnessed a series of resignations, starting with former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland's departure in January. Freeland left to accept an economic advisory role with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and later began her role as CEO of the Rhodes Trust on July 1. Following her, former cabinet minister Bill Blair vacated his Toronto seat to take up the position of high commissioner in the United Kingdom. His transition was announced in February, with his official term commencing in March.
Additionally, Bloc Québécois MP Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay and NDP's Alexandre Boulerice both resigned to participate in Quebec's upcoming election, scheduled for October 5. Toronto Liberal Shaun Chen also left his seat last month, citing physical challenges stemming from a car accident that hindered his ability to commute to Ottawa. Chen is now running for a seat on Toronto's city council.
Lastly, former Liberal cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault officially vacated his Montreal seat on Friday. Guilbeault has been outspoken against Prime Minister Mark Carney's environmental and energy policies following his resignation from the cabinet in November.
Elections Canada has estimated that each byelection costs around $2 million. However, they acknowledge that these expenses can increase, particularly in areas like Toronto, where facility rentals and advertising expenditures are notably higher.
