🚨 ICYMI... On Sunday, March 23, Prime Minister Mark Carney asked Canada's Governor General to dissolve the 44th Parliament, issuing 343 writs of election to kick off the 45th general election campaign.

Set for Monday, April 28, 2025, the 37-day election period is the shortest allowed by the Canada Elections Act, but while short, it is certain to be action-packed.

Key dates 

From registration cutoffs to debate schedules and advance voting options, staying informed about these important dates will ensure you're ready to cast your ballot. 

To vote, you must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old on election day, and prove your identity and address. To check your registration, register, or update your address, visit the online voter registration service.

In order to vote, you must be registered by the April 22 deadline. After April 22, you will have to register when you arrive at a voting station.

• ✍️ If you're registered, you'll receive a voter registration card in the mail by April 11, telling you where and when you can vote.
  • Alternatively, you can search for your electoral district using Elections Canada's Voter Information Service.
• 🗓️ Advance voting days will be held from April 18 through April 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. local time. You can also vote in advance at any Elections Canada office up until April 22 at 6:00 p.m.
• 📮You can vote by mail by April 22 at 6:00 p.m. Once registered, Elections Canada will send a vote-by-mail kit, which must be returned before the close of the final election day.

On March 24, Canada's Leaders' Debates Commission announced the details of the upcoming debates, taking place at the Maison de Radio-Canada in Montreal, Quebec.

FRENCH DEBATE

• 🗓️ Wednesday, April 16 at 8:00 p.m. ET
• 🎙️ Moderated by Patrice Roy of Radio-Canada

ENGLISH DEBATE

• 🗓️ Thursday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. ET
• 🎙️ Moderated by Steve Paikin of TVO

Campaign Commitments 

Each political party is rolling out its vision for the country - here's a breakdown of their current standings and key promises while on the campaign trail: 

🟥 Liberal Party of Canada (led by Prime Minister Mark Carney) - 152

• Middle class tax cut: Reduce the marginal tax rate on the lowest tax bracket by one percentage point.
  • Coupled with pre-campaign commitments to cancel the consumer carbon tax and eliminate the GST on all homes up to $1 million for first-time home buyers.
• Invest in the Canadian Armed Forces: Expand the Navy with new submarines and icebreakers, strengthen the Coast Guard's role in NATO and maritime security, and modernize military recruitment with better pay, housing, and healthcare. Invest in shipbuilding, Canadian steel, and next-gen defense technology, accelerate procurement, and create a first-class drone capability.
• Domestic auto manufacturing: Invest $2 billion in a Strategic Response Fund for Canada's auto sector, develop an "All-in-Canada" network for auto parts, maximize domestic steel, aluminum, and critical minerals, and prioritize Canadian-built vehicles. 

🟦 Conservative Party of Canada (led by Pierre Poilievre) - 120

• Islander tolls: Scrap the tolls on Confederation Bridge and initiate a review of the Wood Islands-Caribou ferry.
• Income tax cut: Drop the tax rate on the lowest income tax bracket from 15 per cent to 12.75 per cent
• GST on homes: Cut the GST on new homes under $1.3 million.
• Senior finances:  Allow seniors to earn up to $34,000 tax-free, allow seniors the option of keeping savings going in RRSPs until age 73, and keep the retirement age at 65. 
• TFSA top-up: Allow for contributions of an additional $5,000 a year to Tax-Free Savings Accounts if that money supports Canadian companies that employ Canadian workers and pay Canadian taxes. 
  • The existing $7,000 limit would remain in place. 

⬜️ Bloc Québécois (led by Yves-François Blanchet) - 33

• Energy East: Oppose any revival of the Energy East pipeline.
• Wage subsidy: Implement a wage subsidy to enable workers to remain employed throughout a trade war. 

🟧 New Democratic Party of Canada (led by Jagmeet Singh) - 24

• Public land for homebuilding: Dedicate federal land for 100,000+ rent-controlled homes by 2035 and double the Public Land Acquisition Fund with $1B over five years.
•  Basic personal income and affordability: Raise the basic personal amount to $19,500; remove GST from essentials like grocery store meals, diapers, strollers, cell, internet and heating bills; reverse the capital gains inclusion rate tax cut; ouble the Disability Benefit; increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).
• Auto tariffs and manufacturing: Every dollar collected from Canadian counter tariffs to go towards workers, boost employment insurance, ban asset stripping from Canadian auto plants, and mandate that federal departments and agencies purchase Canadian-made vehicles. 

🟩 Green Party of Canada (led by Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault) - 2

• Basic personal income: Raise the federal Basic Personal Amount (BPA) from approximately $15,705 to $40,000.

News and Nuance

The first week of the campaign unfolds against a backdrop of major political developments, shifting public debates, and key news events shaping the broader electoral landscape.

🇺🇸 Tariff Talks 

On Wednesday, March 26, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25 per cent duty on all finished vehicles imported into the US beginning April 3, the day after a series of reciprocal tariffs are set to be announced following a US evaluation of trading practices. 

Trump has yet to outline how many component parts will be penalized, as cars exported to the US under the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement (CUSMA) might yet be hit with tariffs on their non-American components, pending a review. 

In response, Mark Carney stated he will return to Ottawa and, as Prime Minister, convene a meeting of the Canada-US Cabinet Committee. 

Carney further remarked that the US has proven itself to be an unreliable trading partner and that a relationship based on deepening integration of economics, tight security, and military cooperation has come to an end. Canadian retaliatory measures are expected to be announced if tariffs go through.  

Trump's team has reached out to set up a call with Carney, which is likely to occur in the coming days. 

Pierre Poilievre called on Trump to halt the imposition of tariffs, vowing that if elected, he would expand pipelines and LNG projects, support mining, strengthen resource infrastructure with new international trade partners, accelerate permitting, and eliminate interprovincial trade barriers.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called Trump's latest threats an attack on auto workers. He promised that if elected, his party would ban asset stripping from Canadian auto plants, mandate that federal departments and agencies purchase Canadian-made vehicles, and allocate counter-tariff dollars back to the auto industry. 

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet urged Parliament to reconvene the week of the election and called on all parties to back a wage subsidy to help businesses retain their employees during the crisis.

🔒 Foreign interference 

Concerns about the interference of foreign actors have been prominent throughout the campaign period, as multiple allegations have been brought to the forefront. 

Reports have revealed concerns that Indian proxies allegedly meddled and were involved in raising money and organizing for Poilievre during his 2022 leadership race. 

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has asserted that there is no evidence that Poilievre or his team knew of any alleged foreign interference. CSIS also stated that the information was not shared with the Conservative Party leader, as he doesn't have the necessary security clearance. 

Poilevre has rejected calls to get his clearance, arguing that it would inhibit his ability to speak freely or criticize the government. He notes that he last received clearance when he was in the cabinet in 2015. 

Poilievre has further criticized Carney's recent position with Brookfield Asset Management, whose loan with the Bank of China, he argues, should raise security concerns. 

In response, Carney stated he had put his assets into a blind trust and is working with the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner to put up conflict-of-interest screens.

Additionally, this week it was revealed that the Liberal Party revoked MP Chandra Ayra's bid to run for the party leadership and his nomination in the Ottawa riding of Nepean due to alleged foreign interference concerns. Arya took a trip to India last August, where he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

📊 Polling Positions 

In recent weeks, the Liberal Party has seen a sharp uptick in the polls, following months of the Conservative Party holding a steady lead. 

The most recent survey, conducted by Leger from March 21 to 23, 2025, shows that the Liberals lead the Conservatives by six points, with 44 per cent and 38 per cent respectively. 

At the beginning of January, a Leger poll showed the Conservatives leading the Liberals by 18 points.

Since Mark Carney's Liberal leadership victory on March 9, the party has gained momentum. The weekend of the leadership vote, a Leger poll placed the Liberals and Conservatives in a dead heat at 37 percent.

Just a week ago, Liberal support had risen to 42 percent, edging out the Conservatives at 39 percent.

The Liberals are leading in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada, while the Conservatives remain the top pick in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. 

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has stated that his party faces massive challenges as much of its support is going to the Liberals, with the latest Leger poll showing the NDP holding only 6 per cent of the vote.

As the political landscape remains uncertain, shifting voter sentiment continues to make the polls a moving target, with momentum changing week by week.

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