Liberal candidate Joyce Murray has won Monday's federal byelection in Vancouver Quadra.

With 225 of 237 polls reporting, Elections Canada said the former B.C. cabinet minister had 9,362 votes or 36.7 per cent of the vote.

Conservative rival Deborah Meredith had 8,587 votes or 33.7 per cent of the vote. NDP candidate Rebecca Coad had 3,851 votes or 15.1 per cent while Green party candidate Dan Grice had 3,572 or 14 per cent.

Murray said Monday night's victory in Vancouver, and Liberal wins in byelections in Toronto, will make the Liberal Party more effective in holding Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper accountable in the next weeks and months.

"The public has spoken and it's about the environment,'' she said, promising to be a tireless advocate for the reduction of greenhouse gases and to push for social housing for those in need.

Encompassing an area that includes the University of British Columbia, Vancouver Quadra is one of the wealthiest ridings in the country and has been a Liberal stronghold for nearly a quarter of a century.

The B.C. riding was one of four election districts in Canada that went to the polls on Monday. It was up for grabs following the resignation of Stephen Owen, who secured 49 per cent of the votes in the last general election in 2006.

In other byelections Monday, Toronto Liberals Bob Rae and Martha Hall Findlay blew past the NDP and Green Party to take the ridings of Toronto Centre and Willowdale.

But Conservative Rob Clarke beat Liberal Joan Beatty, Dion's handpicked candidate in the northern Saskatchewan riding of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River.

The four races were considered crucial for the Liberals, who suffered a humiliating defeat in three Quebec byelections six months ago.