When is Canada’s federal election? Everything you need to know about the 2025 vote
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 federal election in Canada.
When is it?
Canada’s 45th federal election is scheduled for April 28, 2025. This snap election was called by Mark Carney after he was elected leader of the Liberal Party and became prime minister last month following Justin Trudeau’s resignation.
While federal elections are typically held every four years, they can be called at any time. In this instance, Carney recommended dissolving Parliament to address pressing issues, including trade tensions with the United States. If he hadn’t called an election, he would have likely faced a no-confidence vote when Parliament returned, which would have triggered an election.
Who are the federal leaders?
- The major political parties have the following leaders:
- Mark Carney: Liberal Party of Canada
- Pierre Poilievre: Conservative Party of Canada
- Jagmeet Singh: New Democratic Party (NDP)
- Yves-François Blanchet: Bloc Québécois
- Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault: co-leaders of the Green Party of Canada
How many seats does each party have?
As of the election call, the seat distribution in the House of Commons was:
- Liberal Party of Canada: 152
- Conservative Party of Canada: 120
- NDP: 24
- Bloc Québécois: 33
- Green Party of Canada: 2
There are 343 seats up for grabs in the 2025 election, so a party needs to win 172 seats to command a majority.
How can I vote?
To vote in the federal election, you must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old on election day, and registered with Elections Canada. Voting options include:
- In-person on election day: Vote at your designated polling station.
- By mail: Apply for a mail-in ballot if you cannot vote in person.
- Advance Voting: Cast your ballot before election day at designated polling stations.
For more details, visit Elections Canada’s website .
How many days is the election?
The 2025 election campaign is 37 days, from March 23 to April 28. During this period, parties are holding rallies and events to present their platforms to voters.
When are the debates?
There are two debates scheduled for the 2025 election. The Leaders’ Debates Commission, an independent body, will host them both at the Maison de Radio-Canada in Montréal, Québec. The French debate will take place on Wednesday, April 16 at 8 p.m. ET. The English debate will be held on Thursday, April 17 at 7 p.m. ET. Radio-Canada anchor Patrice Roy will moderate the French debate and TVO host Steve Paikin will moderate the English one.
Important Dates
Voting by mail: The Tuesday before election day — April 22 — is the last day to register to vote by mail. To register, call Elections Canada or visit their website .
Advance polling: There will be four advance polling days between April 18 and 21. Be sure to bring official identification with your name and address on it.
Student voting: Between April 13 and 16, Elections Canada will operate its vote on-campus program at a number of colleges and universities , but students can also vote on election day
Military: Between April 14 and 19, Canadian Armed Forces electors can vote at the military poll set up for their base or unit.