Supreme Court invalidates Terrebonne election result and vacates seat

The Supreme Court of Canada invalidated a one-vote result in the Terrebonne riding, vacating the seat and reducing the Liberals' seat count; the Bloc Québécois has requested a by-election.

The Supreme Court of Canada has overturned the April 28 result in the Terrebonne federal riding. The outcome had been decided by a one-vote margin after a judicial recount. The legal challenge followed a report that a special ballot was not counted because an Elections Canada label showed the wrong postal code. The ruling vacates the seat and reduces the governing Liberals' number of seats in the House of Commons. Key facts: - The Supreme Court invalidated a one-vote victory in Terrebonne and declared the seat vacant. - Sworn statements said an election employee printed the wrong postal code on several special-ballot envelopes; the employee estimated at least 40 envelopes were affected. - A Superior Court judge earlier had refused a new election, but the Supreme Court reversed that outcome. - The Bloc Québécois has requested a by-election; no date has been set. Summary: The ruling removes the previously declared victory and leaves the Terrebonne seat vacant, lowering the Liberal seat total in the House of Commons. Undetermined at this time.