Canada holds 3 federal byelections amid U.S. trade tensions

Polls opened Monday in three federal byelections across Canada, with voters casting ballots in ridings in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec amid a backdrop of escalating trade tensions with the United States. The votes in North Vancouver-Capilano, Beaches-East York, and Chicoutimi-Le Fjord will determine the makeup of Parliament as the governing Liberal Party seeks to maintain its slim majority. The byelections were called after the resignations of three Members of Parliament earlier this year. In British Columbia, the Liberals are defending the seat of North Vancouver-Capilano, which was vacated by longtime MP and former cabinet minister Jonathan Wilkinson in June after he was appointed Canada's ambassador to the European Union. The party has held the riding since 2015. Braeden Caley, a former deputy chief of staff to Prime Minister Mark Carney, is running for the Liberals. The Conservatives have nominated commercial lawyer Stephen Curran, while the NDP's candidate is Stephen Tweedale. In Ontario, the Liberals are contesting the Toronto riding of Beaches-East York, left open by former cabinet minister Nate ErskineSmith, who resigned in July.