Canadians head to the polls today in a crucial federal election after a dramatic few months shaped by political changes at home and tensions with the United States. Prime Minister Mark Carney , who took office in March following Justin Trudeau’s resignation, called the snap election in response to growing political pressure and a worsening trade dispute with US President Donald Trump.
Initially seen as vulnerable, the Liberal Party's prospects have improved as Carney presented himself as a steady leader against external economic threats. Canadians will now decide who will govern as they elect representatives to the House of Commons across 343 constituencies, where the majority is 172 seats.
Who are the candidates?
Prime Minister Mark Carney, 60, leads the Liberal Party into his first general election. Carney, a former head of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, was chosen as Liberal leader with overwhelming support earlier this year. Despite his financial expertise and international reputation, this marks his first attempt at winning public office in Canada.
The other main contender is Pierre Poilievre , 45, the leader of the Conservative Party. A long-time Member of Parliament from Calgary, Poilievre has built his campaign around promises of smaller government and lower taxes, criticising the Liberals for what he called "woke" policies and economic mismanagement. Once leading the polls comfortably, Poilievre has found the race tightening in recent weeks.
Jagmeet Singh leads the New Democratic Party ( NDP ), a progressive force that currently holds 24 seats. Meanwhile, Yves-François Blanchet heads the Bloc Québécois, a Quebec nationalist party with strong regional support.
At the time Parliament was dissolved, the Liberals held 152 seats, the Conservatives 120, the Bloc 33, and the NDP 24, with the remainder scattered among independents and smaller parties.
Key parties
The Liberal Party, currently in power, is now led by Mark Carney, a former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor. Carney took over from Justin Trudeau and positions the Liberals as centrist, focusing on affordability, climate action, and social supports.
The Conservative Party, Canada’s main opposition, is led by Pierre Poilievre. He champions lower taxes, cutting red tape, and a tougher stance on crime and immigration, appealing to fiscally conservative voters.
The New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Jagmeet Singh, advocates for social justice, wealth redistribution, and expanded public services like dental care and affordable housing.
The Bloc Québécois, under Yves-François Blanchet, focuses solely on Quebec’s interests, promoting its autonomy within Canada.
The Green Party, co-led by Elizabeth May, which pushes for environmental sustainability and climate-focused economic reforms.
What are the key issues
The shadow of US President Donald Trump looms large over today's election. Trump's imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods and his provocative suggestion that Canada should become the "51st state" have stirred nationalist sentiment among Canadian voters.
Affordability issues are shaping the concerns of younger Canadians in this election. Among voters aged 18 to 44, 43% cited housing as the most pressing issue facing the country, underlining the impact of soaring home prices and rental costs. US-Canada relations ranked second for this group, named by 39%, followed closely by inflation at 38%.
In contrast, older Canadians aged 45 and above are more concerned with traditional pillars of security. They are significantly more likely to cite healthcare, the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and Old Age Security (OAS) as top priorities. These concerns reflect growing unease over an ageing population and the future sustainability of support systems.
Younger Canadians appear focused on the cost of living, employment stability, and global relations, particularly as the economic fallout from US tariffs continues to ripple across industries. Older voters, meanwhile, are looking for reassurance that public healthcare and pension benefits will be protected and strengthened.
All major parties have pledged to boost defence spending to meet NATO's 2% GDP target. The Liberals will invest C$18bn in new equipment like submarines and icebreakers, while Conservatives plan C$17bn and new Arctic bases. The NDP aims for the target by 2032 and would cancel US fighter jet contracts.
On housing, Liberals promise a federal developer and C$25bn in financing to double housing starts. Conservatives want to build 2.3 million homes by tying funding to city performance and selling federal land. The NDP pledges 3 million affordable units and 100,000 rent-controlled homes.
On climate, Liberals back industrial carbon pricing and clean energy investment. Conservatives would scrap all carbon pricing, while the NDP supports renewables and opposes new pipelines.
How the elections work and when to expect results
Canada’s federal elections operate under a system similar to that of the United Kingdom. Citizens will cast a single vote for a local representative to the House of Commons. The candidate receiving the most votes in each constituency wins; a majority is not required. The leader of the party that wins the most seats is invited to form the government and becomes Prime Minister.
If no party wins an outright majority, the leading party can attempt to form a minority government or build a coalition with smaller parties.
Polling stations open across six time zones and will close mostly by 9:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time. Due to the vast geography of Canada, some ridings will have polls closing slightly later to ensure fairness.
Ballots are hand-counted by federal officials under the supervision of party representatives. Most in-person votes will be counted at local polling places after polls close. Special ballots, such as those cast by military members, prisoners, and Canadians living abroad, are processed separately and may take longer.
Elections Canada expects to have the "vast majority" of results available on election night. However, only preliminary figures will be released initially. Final official results, after thorough verification, typically take several days to be confirmed.
Recounts are mandatory if the margin in any constituency is less than one one-thousandth of the votes cast. Additional recounts can also be requested by candidates or voters if warranted.
Unlike the US, where elections are run at the state level, Canada's federal election is administered nationally by Elections Canada, a neutral, independent agency.
Initially seen as vulnerable, the Liberal Party's prospects have improved as Carney presented himself as a steady leader against external economic threats. Canadians will now decide who will govern as they elect representatives to the House of Commons across 343 constituencies, where the majority is 172 seats.
Who are the candidates?
Prime Minister Mark Carney, 60, leads the Liberal Party into his first general election. Carney, a former head of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, was chosen as Liberal leader with overwhelming support earlier this year. Despite his financial expertise and international reputation, this marks his first attempt at winning public office in Canada.
The other main contender is Pierre Poilievre , 45, the leader of the Conservative Party. A long-time Member of Parliament from Calgary, Poilievre has built his campaign around promises of smaller government and lower taxes, criticising the Liberals for what he called "woke" policies and economic mismanagement. Once leading the polls comfortably, Poilievre has found the race tightening in recent weeks.
Jagmeet Singh leads the New Democratic Party ( NDP ), a progressive force that currently holds 24 seats. Meanwhile, Yves-François Blanchet heads the Bloc Québécois, a Quebec nationalist party with strong regional support.
At the time Parliament was dissolved, the Liberals held 152 seats, the Conservatives 120, the Bloc 33, and the NDP 24, with the remainder scattered among independents and smaller parties.
Key parties
The Liberal Party, currently in power, is now led by Mark Carney, a former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor. Carney took over from Justin Trudeau and positions the Liberals as centrist, focusing on affordability, climate action, and social supports.
The Conservative Party, Canada’s main opposition, is led by Pierre Poilievre. He champions lower taxes, cutting red tape, and a tougher stance on crime and immigration, appealing to fiscally conservative voters.
The New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Jagmeet Singh, advocates for social justice, wealth redistribution, and expanded public services like dental care and affordable housing.
The Bloc Québécois, under Yves-François Blanchet, focuses solely on Quebec’s interests, promoting its autonomy within Canada.
The Green Party, co-led by Elizabeth May, which pushes for environmental sustainability and climate-focused economic reforms.
What are the key issues
The shadow of US President Donald Trump looms large over today's election. Trump's imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods and his provocative suggestion that Canada should become the "51st state" have stirred nationalist sentiment among Canadian voters.
Affordability issues are shaping the concerns of younger Canadians in this election. Among voters aged 18 to 44, 43% cited housing as the most pressing issue facing the country, underlining the impact of soaring home prices and rental costs. US-Canada relations ranked second for this group, named by 39%, followed closely by inflation at 38%.
In contrast, older Canadians aged 45 and above are more concerned with traditional pillars of security. They are significantly more likely to cite healthcare, the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and Old Age Security (OAS) as top priorities. These concerns reflect growing unease over an ageing population and the future sustainability of support systems.
Younger Canadians appear focused on the cost of living, employment stability, and global relations, particularly as the economic fallout from US tariffs continues to ripple across industries. Older voters, meanwhile, are looking for reassurance that public healthcare and pension benefits will be protected and strengthened.
All major parties have pledged to boost defence spending to meet NATO's 2% GDP target. The Liberals will invest C$18bn in new equipment like submarines and icebreakers, while Conservatives plan C$17bn and new Arctic bases. The NDP aims for the target by 2032 and would cancel US fighter jet contracts.
On housing, Liberals promise a federal developer and C$25bn in financing to double housing starts. Conservatives want to build 2.3 million homes by tying funding to city performance and selling federal land. The NDP pledges 3 million affordable units and 100,000 rent-controlled homes.
On climate, Liberals back industrial carbon pricing and clean energy investment. Conservatives would scrap all carbon pricing, while the NDP supports renewables and opposes new pipelines.
How the elections work and when to expect results
Canada’s federal elections operate under a system similar to that of the United Kingdom. Citizens will cast a single vote for a local representative to the House of Commons. The candidate receiving the most votes in each constituency wins; a majority is not required. The leader of the party that wins the most seats is invited to form the government and becomes Prime Minister.
If no party wins an outright majority, the leading party can attempt to form a minority government or build a coalition with smaller parties.
Polling stations open across six time zones and will close mostly by 9:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time. Due to the vast geography of Canada, some ridings will have polls closing slightly later to ensure fairness.
Ballots are hand-counted by federal officials under the supervision of party representatives. Most in-person votes will be counted at local polling places after polls close. Special ballots, such as those cast by military members, prisoners, and Canadians living abroad, are processed separately and may take longer.
Elections Canada expects to have the "vast majority" of results available on election night. However, only preliminary figures will be released initially. Final official results, after thorough verification, typically take several days to be confirmed.
Recounts are mandatory if the margin in any constituency is less than one one-thousandth of the votes cast. Additional recounts can also be requested by candidates or voters if warranted.
Unlike the US, where elections are run at the state level, Canada's federal election is administered nationally by Elections Canada, a neutral, independent agency.
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