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They mirror a broader demographic shift in which millennials are currently the fastest-growing generation and are expected to become the largest by the end of the decade. In principle, this would give them more power over our politics. Their increasing presence in elected positions demonstrates that their demographic clout is beginning to convert into political strength.As a result, we should see more attention dedicated to the difficulties that young Canadians face, such as home affordability and delayed family formation. This would be a wonderful development However, we may see more political division stemming from conflicts about identity, gender and sexuality, and race. Younger generations are significantly more involved in today's identity politics on campuses and in workplaces, as well as the reaction that comes with it. As a result, problems that have historically dominated our politics (such as national unity or public finances) may be pushed aside in favor of these more fundamental yet controversial questions.The crucial point for now is that if one is concerned about the prospect of generational fault lines in Canadian society, the byelection results, as well as the broader trend of generational transition in our politics, should be viewed favorably.The four new members of Parliament who were elected this week will help to assess if the long-term consequences for Canadian policy and politics are beneficial.

A humiliating defeat for the People's Party of Canada

In Portage-Lisgar, PPC leader Maxime Bernier described the by-election as a battle for the heart and soul of Canada's right. Unfortunately for him, the Conservatives agreed and mobilized to meet the challenge, with Tory campaigners from Winnipeg and beyond traveling to southern Manitoba to assist bury the PPC leader.Bernier ultimately received only 17% of the vote, compared to Conservative Branden Leslie's 65%. This is a crushing outcome that Bernier has heroically attempted to sell as a moral victory.Bernier's campaign surely drew media attention and, most likely, raised funds. But, at what cost? Small parties and independent candidates do better in byelections than in general elections. But Bernier received far less votes than his local candidate in the previous election, Solomon Wiebe. If the PPC loses votes in a byelection while its own leader is contesting, what chance does it have in the general election?We know that the PPC benefited greatly in the 2021 election from opposition to COVID limitations and lockdowns. However, with lockdowns in the rearview mirror, the dismal byelection result in southern Manitoba shows the party's support will likely peak in 2021.With each failed election, casting a ballot for the PPC appears to be a wasted vote.Maxime Bernier, leader of the People's Party of Canada, talks in Saskatoon on September 20, 2021. Liam Richards/Canadian Press.

Following the four federal byelections, Carleton professor 

Jennifer Robson noted that all four winners, two Liberals and two Conservatives, were former political staffers.Ben Carr, the son of the late former MP Jim Carr, served as Melanie Joly's director of parliamentary affairs. Anna Gainey, who won her election in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Westmount, is not only the daughter of former NHL star Bob Gainey, but also a part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's inner circle and a former Liberal Party president.Branden Leslie, the new MP for Portage-Lisgar, oversaw Candice Bergen's 2019 campaign and previously served as a legislative assistant. Arpan Khanna, Oxford's new MP, previously worked for Jason Kenney, conducting outreach to ethnic communities.What this means for Canadian politics remains unclear. Is politics a priesthood, reserved for a select few who are already members of the elite club?Or are staffers, who are generally preoccupied with politics to an excessive degree, the only individuals who aspire to be members of Parliament nowadays?Local impacts prevail, despite Liberal scandals dominating news.Liberal insiders could have been forgiven for feeling pessimistic coming into Monday's federal byelections, with the party's numbers plummeting amid an apparently never-ending succession of scandals. Instead, the four (quite different) campaigns exemplified the old saying that "all politics is local".The evening's most competitive election, in Oxford, was overshadowed by a contentious Conservative nomination dispute. (Retiring Conservative MP Dave MacKenzie announced publicly that he would vote for Liberal David Hilderley). 

Conservative candidate Arpan Khanna 

(a close ally of party leader Pierre Poilievre) won by a comfortable seven points over Hilderley. (MacKenzie defeated his Liberal opponent by more than 25 points in 2021). Meanwhile, PPC leader Maxime Bernier was defeated in Portage-Lisgar, one of Canada's most conservative ridings (three-quarters of voters chose right-leaning candidates in 2021). Bernier and successful Conservative candidate Brandon Leslie traded barbs about the World Economic Forum and LGBT+ Pride in a heated campaign that resembled a Republican primary at times—Leslie swore not to attend the WEF before Monday's vote.It was a family affair in Winnipeg South Centre, as Liberal Ben Carr succeeded his late father Jim Carr (Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security before his death in late 2022). In the evening's snooziest race, liberal Anna Gainey won Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, a party stronghold.Monday's byelections reveal little about Canadian voters' overall sentiment, as each contest was decided by local factors unrelated to national politics. It was a very boring evening, but it served to highlight the importance of local efforts.