Sometimes basic math and politics are inextricably linked.

There are 343 federal ridings in Canada, which means a party must win at least 172 seats to form a majority in parliament and be in a position to pass laws without needing opposition party support or worrying about a non-confidence motion that could topple the government and spark a new election. 

In last year’s general election, the Liberals under Mark Carney won 169 seats, falling only three short. Since then, five opposition members of parliament (four Conservatives and one NDP) have crossed the floor to the Liberals. But two Liberal MPs — Chrystia Freeland and Bill Blair — have since resigned.

Furthermore, the Liberal win in Terrebonne riding by one vote was annulled in February by the Supreme Court when a Bloc Québécois voter showed her mail-in vote had been returned because of an Elections Canada return-address error.

That all equates to 169 (4 1) – (2 1) = 171, which is now just one short of a majority. 

On........

© Montreal Gazette