🇨🇦 Canada Heads to the Polls: What You Need to Know About the 2025 Federal Election

If you're Canadian—keep reading. It's election time.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has officially requested that the Governor General dissolve Parliament, and the request has been granted. That means the federal election is now underway, with Election Day set for April 28, 2025.

Here’s everything you need to know:

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🗓️ Key Election Dates

• Campaign Period: 36 days

• Election Day: April 28, 2025

• Advance Polls & Mail-in Voting: Details will be available on Elections Canada

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🗳️ What’s at Stake?

There are 343 ridings (electoral districts) up for grabs—5 more than the last federal election. Each riding corresponds to one seat in the House of Commons.

Current House of Commons Breakdown:

• Liberal Party: 152 seats

• Conservative Party: 120 seats

• Bloc Québécois: 33 seats

• NDP (New Democratic Party): 24 seats

• Green Party: 2 seats

• Independents: 3 MPs

• Vacant Seats: 4

To form a majority government, a party needs at least 172 seats. Otherwise, a minority government can still be formed with fewer seats if they gain the support of other parties.

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👤 Who Are the Party Leaders?

Party	Leader	Notes
Liberal	Mark Carney	Newly elected leader; not yet an MP
Conservative	Pierre Poilievre	Current opposition leader
NDP	Jagmeet Singh	Seeking to expand NDP influence
Bloc Québécois	Yves-François Blanchet	Focused on Quebec interests
Green Party	Elizabeth May & Jonathan Pedneault	Co-leaders

📍 Mark Carney is running in the Ottawa riding of Nepean. This is his first time running for elected office.

If the Liberal Party loses, Carney could go down as Canada’s shortest-serving Prime Minister—even shorter than Charles Tupper, who served just 69 days in 1896.

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🤔 How Does Voting Work in Canada?

In Canada, you don't vote directly for the Prime Minister. Instead, you vote for a local Member of Parliament (MP) in your riding.

The leader of the party that wins the most seats typically becomes Prime Minister.

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✅ Who Can Vote?

To vote in the federal election, you must:

• Be a Canadian citizen

• Be at least 18 years old on election day

• Show proof of identity and address

Ways to Vote:

• On Election Day (April 28)

• At advance polls

• By mail-in ballot, including from outside Canada

Visit Elections Canada to check:

• Your riding

• Voter registration status

• How to request a mail-in ballot

• Advance voting dates and locations

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🗣️ Have Questions About the Election?

Want to learn more about party platforms or specific issues that matter to you?

You can email your questions to: ask@cbc.ca
Stay informed and make your vote count.

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📌 Final Thoughts

Canada’s political future is at a crossroads. With a new Liberal leader, shifting voter priorities, and tight margins in Parliament, this 2025 election could shape the country for years to come.

👉 Are you ready to vote?
👉 What issues matter most to you this election?

Let us know in the comments! 🇨🇦