Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to ask the Governor General on Sunday to dissolve Parliament, officially launching Canada’s next federal election campaign. Sources have confirmed that election day is set for April 28, marking the shortest campaign period allowed under Canadian law.
Under federal election rules, campaigns must run between 37 and 51 days, with voting typically held on a Monday. If Carney calls the election on Sunday, April 28 will fall on Day 37 of the campaign.
Reports of a snap election surfaced earlier this week, with The Globe and Mail first suggesting Carney would move forward with the April 28 date.
Tight Race Between Liberals and Conservatives
Carney’s decision comes amid a closely contested political landscape. According to CBC’s Poll Tracker, the Liberal Party holds a narrow lead at 37.8%, just ahead of Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives at 37.2%.
If an election were held today, projections suggest the Liberals could secure 176 seats, while the Conservatives would win 133.
Campaigns Take Shape Ahead of Official Call
Although the formal election announcement is expected on Sunday, federal parties are already laying out key policies to win over voters.
On Friday, Carney, after meeting with Canada’s premiers, pledged to remove barriers to free trade within the country, stating his goal was to achieve “free trade by Canada Day.”
Meanwhile, Poilievre continues to court working-class voters with his proposal to train 350,000 new trade workers, describing his plan as “more boots, less suits” to “bring home a country that works for the people that do the work.”
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has also outlined a major policy stance, promising to cancel Canada’s contract for U.S.-built F-35 fighter jets and instead seek domestic manufacturers, a move driven by rising tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump.
With the election date now set, the coming weeks will see an intense political battle as parties vie for voter support.