Liberals win byelection in Beaches-East York, keeping seat vacated by Erskine-Smith
Written by The Canadian Press on August 31, 2026
TORONTO — Liberal Tanveer Shahnawaz is projected to win Monday’s byelection in the federal riding of Beaches-East York to maintain the party’s hold on the Toronto-area seat.
The 30-year-old is well ahead of the NDP’s Shannon Devine and Conservative Jim Syrbos.
The byelection was triggered when Nate Erskine-Smith resigned last month after a failed attempt to win a seat in Ontario’s provincial parliament.
Shahnawaz worked as office manager for Erskine-Smith and was picked as the Liberal candidate after a nine-day nomination contest in July.
The riding in Toronto’s east end was considered a safe seat for the Liberals, who have won all but one of the last 12 elections in the riding, with an NDP victory during the Orange Wave under Jack Layton in 2011.
Erskine-Smith reclaimed the seat in the 2015 election and held it until his July resignation.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 31, 2026.
The Canadian Press