Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has secured a parliamentary majority for his centrist Liberal government, strengthening his hold on power and allowing him to advance his agenda without relying on opposition support.The Liberals now hold 174 seats in the 343-seat House of Commons of Canada after winning key by-elections in three ridings, or electoral districts, on Monday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listThey include the Ontario ridings of University–Rosedale and Scarborough Southwest, as well as the closely contested Quebec riding of Terrebonne.In a statement following the victory, Carney signalled that affordability and the economy would remain his central priorities. He added that voters had “placed their trust” in his government.“We accept their support with humility, determination, and a clear understanding of what this moment demands for our country,” Carney said on Tuesday.He also announced that Canada will suspend the federal fuel excise tax on petrol and diesel from April 20 to September 7 to help consumers cope with rising prices. The move, Carney explained, is expected to cut petrol prices by about 10 cents Canadian (US$0.07) a litre and diesel costs by four cents (US$0.03).“[This] is a responsible measure that will reduce operating costs for truckers and businesses in the food, agriculture, housing, construction and delivery sectors,” he said.The Liberals had relied on Conservative support over the past year to pass economic and trade-r …
