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Who's who in Canada's federal election Who's who in Canada's federal election
(7 days later)
From left to right: NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, Liberal leader Mark Carney, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet, and Conservative leader Pierre PoilievreFrom left to right: NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, Liberal leader Mark Carney, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet, and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre
Prime Minister and Liberal leader Mark Carney has called an election in Canada, kickstarting five weeks of campaigning before Canadians head to the polls. Canadians will head to the elections on 28 April, with polls suggesting a tight race between the ruling Liberals and the opposition Conservatives.
Voting day will officially be on Monday 28 April.
It will be the first election in a decade without former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the ballot, and the two major parties in Canada - the Conservatives and the Liberals - are locked in a tight race.
While Canadians don't vote for prime minister directly, the leader of the party that wins the most seats will traditionally become head of government.While Canadians don't vote for prime minister directly, the leader of the party that wins the most seats will traditionally become head of government.
Here is a breakdown of the leaders of Canada's major parties. It will be the first election in a decade without former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the ballot, and the frontrunners in the race are Liberal leader Mark Carney and leader of the Conservatives, Pierre Poilievre.
Here is a breakdown of the leaders of Canada's major political parties.
Liberal Party leader Mark CarneyLiberal Party leader Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Carney, 60, is the incumbent prime minister of Canada, but he has only been on the job for a few weeks.Carney, 60, is the incumbent prime minister of Canada, but he has only been on the job for a few weeks.
His party overwhelmingly chose him - with more than 85% of the vote - to succeed Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader in early March. He became prime minister shortly after, following Trudeau's resignation.His party overwhelmingly chose him - with more than 85% of the vote - to succeed Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader in early March. He became prime minister shortly after, following Trudeau's resignation.
For many in Canada and the UK, Carney is a familiar face. He was head of both the Banks of Canada and England, serving at the former during the 2008 financial crash and the latter during Brexit.For many in Canada and the UK, Carney is a familiar face. He was head of both the Banks of Canada and England, serving at the former during the 2008 financial crash and the latter during Brexit.
He was born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, making him the first Canadian prime minister from the north. Carney later grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, before he attended Harvard University and then Oxford, where he studied economics.He was born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, making him the first Canadian prime minister from the north. Carney later grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, before he attended Harvard University and then Oxford, where he studied economics.
Carney is hailed for his financial expertise. He has also taken a defiant stance against US President Donald Trump, vowing retaliation against his tariffs and stating that Canada will never become the 51st US state.Carney is hailed for his financial expertise. He has also taken a defiant stance against US President Donald Trump, vowing retaliation against his tariffs and stating that Canada will never become the 51st US state.
But Carney is politically untested. He has never been elected to public office in Canada, and this general election will be his very first. His French is also weak, which could be a liability among voters who feel strongly about preserving Canada's French-speaking heritage, especially in the province of Quebec, though so far polls have not suggested it's dragging him down in the province. But Carney is politically untested. He has never been elected to public office in Canada, and this general election will be his very first.
He is not as fluent in French as his opponents, though that has yet to be a liability among voters who feel strongly about preserving Canada's French-speaking heritage, especially in the province of Quebec.
He has faced some criticism for taking multiple breaks during the campaign - amid a trade war with the US - to focus on his role as prime minister.
Are you a Canadian voter? We want to hear from youAre you a Canadian voter? We want to hear from you
FULL STORY: Canada's Carney calls snap election TARIFFS: 'A stab in the back' - car workers in Canada hit out at US over tariffs
GUIDE: How does Canada's election work?GUIDE: How does Canada's election work?
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VIDEO: What happens next?VIDEO: What happens next?
Conservative leader Pierre PoilievreConservative leader Pierre Poilievre
Pierre Poilievre
Poilievre, 45, originally hails from Calgary, Alberta. He has been in Canadian politics for nearly two decades - first elected to the House of Commons at age 25, making him one of the youngest MPs at the time.Poilievre, 45, originally hails from Calgary, Alberta. He has been in Canadian politics for nearly two decades - first elected to the House of Commons at age 25, making him one of the youngest MPs at the time.
Since then, he has consistently advocated for a low-tax, small government in Canada.Since then, he has consistently advocated for a low-tax, small government in Canada.
He is known for his confrontational style of politics. In recent years, Poilievre has tirelessly attacked the Liberals and Trudeau, saying that their "disastrous" and "woke" policies have worsened the quality of life in Canada, while promising a return to "common sense politics" if his party were to form government. He is known for his confrontational style of politics. In recent years, Poilievre tirelessly attacked the Liberals and Trudeau, saying that their "disastrous" and "woke" policies have worsened the quality of life in Canada, while promising a return to "common sense politics" if his party were to form government.
It is a message that has resonated with many Canadians who have been worried about the country's housing crisis, stagnant wages and high cost of living. Poilievre has led in national polls since mid-2023, and analysts had projected a near-certain win for his party in the upcoming election. It is a message that has resonated with many Canadians who have been worried about the country's housing crisis, stagnant wages and high cost of living.
But the Liberal Party has since moved slightly ahead in the polls, following Trudeau's resignation, Trump's inauguration, and the rise of Carney as Liberal leader. Poilievre led in national polls from mid-2023 until this March, and analysts had projected a near-certain win for his party in the upcoming election.
But a series of events - Trudeau's resignation, Trump's inauguration, and the rise of Carney as Liberal leader - has made this election a much tighter race.
Poilievre has been criticised for his populist style of politics and has drawn comparisons to Trump at a time when Canadians have rejected the US President's tariffs and his rhetoric that Canada should become the "51st state".Poilievre has been criticised for his populist style of politics and has drawn comparisons to Trump at a time when Canadians have rejected the US President's tariffs and his rhetoric that Canada should become the "51st state".
Poilievre has sought to shift his messaging since, distancing himself from Trump and vowing to put "Canada first." Poilievre has sought to shift his messaging, distancing himself from Trump and vowing to put "Canada first".
"I have a completely different story from Donald Trump," he said in a recent media appearance, highlighting his modest background.
Trump himself has said that Poilievre is not "MAGA enough", though the Conservative leader has been praised by Trump ally and tech titan Elon Musk.Trump himself has said that Poilievre is not "MAGA enough", though the Conservative leader has been praised by Trump ally and tech titan Elon Musk.
Watch: Canada snap election - what happens now?Watch: Canada snap election - what happens now?
Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François BlanchetBloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet
Yves-François BlanchetYves-François Blanchet
The Bloc Québécois is a Quebec nationalist party that only runs candidates in the French-speaking province, meaning its leader is unlikely to become Canada's next prime minister. The Bloc Québécois is a Quebec sovereignist party that only runs candidates in the French-speaking province, meaning its leader is unlikely to become Canada's next prime minister.
Still, they are a key player in Canadian elections, and their popularity in Quebec could determine the fate of the other major parties looking to form government.Still, they are a key player in Canadian elections, and their popularity in Quebec could determine the fate of the other major parties looking to form government.
Blanchet has led the party since 2019. He is known for his frankness, calling Trump's 51st state rhetoric nonsense. Blanchet has led the party since 2019. He is known for his frankness, and has called Trump's 51st state rhetoric nonsense.
"It's enough jibber-jabber," Blanchet said during an address on Trump's tariffs earlier this month in Montreal. "We can say whatever we want, but that doesn't mean we can do whatever we want." "It's enough jibber-jabber," Blanchet said during an address on Trump's tariffs last month in Montreal. "We can say whatever we want, but that doesn't mean we can do whatever we want."
He has also dismissed Trump's tariffs, saying: "I'm sure there will be somebody on his plane between a basketball game and a baseball game to tell him, don't do that, because it's bad for us. I'm sure that at the end of the day, the voice of reason will prevail." On domestic issues, Blanchet has pushed for Quebec to diversify its trade partners, and has asked for a prominent seat at Canada's economic planning table.
On domestic issues, Blanchet has pushed for Quebec to diversify its trade partners, and has asked for a prominent seat at Canada's economic planning table, noting that his province is home to the largest aluminium sector in the country - a commodity that has been targeted by US tariffs. He has said he wants Quebec to be a strong ally with Canada in trade talks with the US.
Blanchet has also suggested that the appetite for an independent Quebec will "come roaring back" when and if the US-Canada relationship stabilises. Quebec - with a large aluminium industry - has been hit hard by the US tariffs of 25%.
Polling shows the Bloc - who are going into the election with 33 seats in Parliament - have been trailing behind the Liberal Party in Quebec. Still, polling indicates the Bloc - who went into the election with 33 seats in Parliament - have been trailing behind the Liberal Party in Quebec.
CBC's poll tracker suggests the Liberals are polling at around 43% in the province, and the Bloc around 23%.
Blanchet has suggested that the appetite for an independent Quebec will "come roaring back" when and if the US-Canada relationship stabilises.
New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet SinghNew Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh
Jagmeet Singh Singh, 46, is leader of the NDP, a left-leaning party that traditionally focuses on worker and labour issues. He made history in 2017 when he became the first ethnic minority and practicing Sikh to lead a major political party in Canada.
Singh, 46, is leader of the NDP, a left-leaning party that traditionally focuses on worker and labour issues. He made history in 2017 when he became the first ethnic minority and practising Sikh to lead a major political party in Canada.
In 2019, the former criminal defence lawyer was elected as an MP in a British Columbia riding, where he has served in public office since.In 2019, the former criminal defence lawyer was elected as an MP in a British Columbia riding, where he has served in public office since.
The NDP had helped the Trudeau Liberal government keep its hold on power since 2021, providing needed votes in Parliament in exchange for support on progressive legislation like dental benefits for lower-income families and a national pharmacare programme covering birth control and insulin.The NDP had helped the Trudeau Liberal government keep its hold on power since 2021, providing needed votes in Parliament in exchange for support on progressive legislation like dental benefits for lower-income families and a national pharmacare programme covering birth control and insulin.
But in late 2024, Singh tore up that "supply and confidence" agreement, after Trudeau's cabinet directed its industrial relations board to impose binding arbitration to end a work stoppage at Canada's two largest railways.But in late 2024, Singh tore up that "supply and confidence" agreement, after Trudeau's cabinet directed its industrial relations board to impose binding arbitration to end a work stoppage at Canada's two largest railways.
At the time, Singh had said that the Liberals "let people down" and didn't "deserve another chance from Canadians".At the time, Singh had said that the Liberals "let people down" and didn't "deserve another chance from Canadians".
But his party has struggled to shore up support. Polls show that only 8.5% of Canadians intend to vote for them as of mid-April, with their ground shrinking while support for the Liberals has risen. But his party has struggled to shore up support. Polls suggest that only 8.5% of Canadians nationally intend to vote for them as of mid-April.
A big question will be whether the NDP will be able to grow the number of seats they occupy in the House of Commons and maintain official party status. A big question will be whether the NDP will be able to retain the number of seats they occupy in the House of Commons and maintain official party status.
In the early 2010s, the party had enough support to form the official opposition, meaning it was the party with the second-most seats in Parliament. By 2021, their seat number had shrunk to 24 out of 338.In the early 2010s, the party had enough support to form the official opposition, meaning it was the party with the second-most seats in Parliament. By 2021, their seat number had shrunk to 24 out of 338.
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