Ottawa — April 28, 2025
Canadians will make a pivotal decision on Monday as they head to the polls to elect their next federal government — and there’s still time to get informed before casting a ballot.
The Major Players
This election marks a significant moment in Canadian politics. Liberal Leader Mark Carney, seeking a fourth consecutive Liberal government, faces strong opposition from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, Green Party co-leaders Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault, and People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier.
For Carney, Poilievre, and Pedneault, this is their first federal election campaign as party leaders. Notably, both Carney and Pedneault are also vying for seats in the House of Commons for the first time.
The Road to the Election
This election wasn’t originally scheduled until 2025. However, political turbulence within the Liberal Party in late 2024 accelerated the timeline. Mounting internal pressure and plummeting approval ratings led Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to announce his resignation in January 2025, pending the election of a successor.
Following Carney’s leadership win in March, he swiftly triggered an election, citing urgent threats to Canadian sovereignty and economic stability posed by the re-elected U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump’s administration has imposed multiple rounds of tariffs on Canadian goods, straining cross-border relations and heightening national security concerns.
Key Issues and Party Promises
As Canadians weigh their options, several major issues dominate the campaign:
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Canada–U.S. Relations and Tariffs:
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Liberals propose a $2 billion auto sector support fund and a $5 billion trade diversification initiative.
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Conservatives emphasize boosting natural resource exports and renegotiating the USMCA trade deal.
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NDP and Greens advocate for prioritizing Canadian businesses over U.S. firms in key sectors.
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Bloc Québécois targets relief programs for Quebec industries, including agriculture and aerospace.
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Affordability and Taxes:
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Conservatives promise an overall 15% income tax cut, estimating annual savings of $900 for the average worker.
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Liberals pledge a middle-class tax cut, with potential annual savings of $412.
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NDP plan GST cuts on essentials and propose higher taxes on corporate profits.
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Greens aim to exempt income under $40,000 from federal taxes, funding it through taxes on banks and tech giants.
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Housing:
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Liberals commit to building nearly 500,000 homes annually over 10 years.
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Conservatives promise 2.3 million homes within five years, partially funded through federal land sales.
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NDP target three million homes by 2030 and introduce national rent control.
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Greens focus on 1.2 million non-market affordable homes.
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Bloc proposes federal land transfers and tighter regulations on property speculation.
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Defence Spending:
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Liberals, Conservatives, and Bloc pledge to meet NATO’s 2% GDP spending target by 2030.
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NDP aims to reach the target by 2032.
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Investments in Arctic security, military housing, and modernization of procurement systems feature heavily across all platforms.
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Both NDP and Greens vow to cancel the F-35 fighter jet contract amid rising U.S. tensions.
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Polling Trends
Since Carney took the Liberal leadership, polls show a resurgence in Liberal support, although the race has tightened considerably.
Early in the campaign, Liberals led Conservatives by 12 points, but recent numbers place the gap at just three points. The NDP holds steady around 10%, while the Bloc Québécois and Greens hover at 5% and 2%, respectively.
How and When to Vote
Advance voting turnout reached historic levels, with over 7.3 million Canadians casting ballots early.
Eligible voters can still cast their vote at local polling stations on Monday. A government-issued ID with a current address is required. Special ballot voters must ensure their ballots are received by Elections Canada before the polls close.
Here are the national voting hours (local time):
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Newfoundland: 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
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Atlantic: 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
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Eastern: 9:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
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Central: 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
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Mountain: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
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Pacific: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Some ridings spanning multiple time zones will have adjusted schedules.
What’s Next?
Preliminary results will start rolling in after polls close. Official certification will take several days, but projections are expected Monday night based on early returns.
Global News will provide live coverage online and across broadcast platforms as Canadians shape the next chapter of their nation’s future.
