Liberal Tanveer Shahnawaz emerged victorious in the byelection held on Monday for the federal riding of Beaches-East York, thus preserving the party's prominence in this Toronto-area constituency. With over 85% of polls reporting, the 30-year-old political aide was firmly ahead of competitors, including NDP candidate Shannon Devine, a labour organizer, and Conservative Jim Syrbos, who owns a diner and coffee shop in Danforth.
In his victory speech, Shahnawaz expressed his profound gratitude, stating, “It is going to now be the honour of a lifetime to represent the only home I have ever known as your next member of Parliament for Beaches-East York.” His supporters responded enthusiastically, chanting his first name in celebration of the win.
Shahnawaz succeeds Nate Erskine-Smith, his former boss, who resigned from the seat earlier this year. For nearly a decade, Shahnawaz served in Erskine-Smith’s community office, initially as an assistant and eventually as the manager. His nomination as the Liberal candidate was determined through a brief nine-day nomination process, during which he outperformed several contenders, including Claire Seaborn, a lawyer and ex-chief of staff to former Liberal minister Jonathan Wilkinson, along with former Ontario legislator Arthur Potts.
The byelection not only solidifies the Liberal party’s foothold in Toronto but also extends its governance in Beaches-East York. Historically, the Liberals have won all but one of the last twelve elections in this riding, with the NDP’s Jack Layton achieving a breakthrough during the Orange Wave in 2011. Erskine-Smith subsequently reclaimed the seat in the 2015 election and represented it until his resignation in July 2023.
Erskine-Smith was known as an independent-minded backbencher who often challenged the Liberal party's conventional positions from the left, addressing various issues including medically assisted death and drug policy. Recently, he made headlines as the sole Liberal MP to oppose the government’s motion aimed at curtailing debate on the crucial Bill C-5, voicing concerns about the increased powers it granted to the cabinet and its potential impacts on environmental protections.
In an interview before the byelection, Shahnawaz acknowledged the significance of Erskine-Smith’s principled stance as a factor in the latter's electoral successes. He noted that the current national economic climate is indeed complex and volatile, emphasizing that he has found common ground with constituents regarding economic strategies, such as appreciating the leadership of Mark Carney.
When asked if he would have supported Erskine-Smith’s vote against Bill C-5, Shahnawaz admitted he had not contemplated it in depth, suggesting that it was not among the primary concerns raised by constituents during his campaign. However, he did highlight a slight divergence from Liberal leadership views, specifically regarding the repeal of the electric vehicle (EV) sales mandate, indicating an appetite for expanded EV charging infrastructure in the riding.
Historically, the NDP has been the main competitor for the Liberals in Beaches-East York, but during the 2025 election, the Conservatives surged into a distant second place amid a general decline in New Democratic support. As per the latest reports with a majority of polls accounted for, Shahnawaz secured approximately 55% of the vote, with Devine trailing at over 25% and Syrbos achieving more than 16%.
