Canada’s Liberal Party one seat closer to majority after Quebec recount

OTTAWA: A single vote in a Quebec riding has brought Canada’s Liberal Party one seat closer to holding a majority in parliament.

A judicial recount in the Terrebone riding declared Liberal candidate Tatiana Auguste the victor with 23,352 votes, ahead of Bloc Québécois incumbent Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, who received 23,351.

The result gives the Liberal Party 170 seats in the House of Commons, two seats shy of the 172 required for a majority.In a statement on social media, Auguste thanked the citizens of Terrebone for their trust and promised to “get to work”.

Canada’s election rules require a recount if a candidate receives less than 0.1 percent of the votes cast.Officials had initially called Terrebone for Auguste the day after the election, but during the validation process - which is when Election Canada confirms numbers but does not recount votes - Sinclair-Desgagné had taken the lead.

Superior Court of Quebec Justice Danielle Turcotte oversaw the recount.Recounts are underway in three other ridings, according to the CBC.The Terrebone result adds to the political comeback for the Liberal Party in Canada, which earlier this year seemed destined for an electoral drumming.