Get ready for election sign madness as Canada heads to the polls in late April.
Brace for a whirlwind of campaign promises, photo ops and political ads—things are about to heat up fast on the federal election trail.
On Sunday, new Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Rideau Hall to ask Governor General Mary Simon to dissolve Parliament, triggering a snap federal election.
Voters will cast their ballots on Monday, April 28th.
That means the House of Commons, originally set to resume sitting on Monday, is officially on pause as parties hit the trail.
And yes, your local boulevards and intersections are about to become a sea of red, blue, orange, and green once again.
This election call comes in the midst of a heated international situation, with US President Donald Trump ramping up pressure on Canada through steep tariffs on Canadian exports and rhetoric that’s raising eyebrows about Canada’s sovereignty.
In response, Canada has fired back with its own retaliatory tariffs—and that showdown with Trump is expected to loom large over this election.
One of the big questions on the ballot: Who’s best equipped to deal with Trump’s aggressive trade tactics?
After former PM Justin Trudeau stepped down, Carney—an economist and former Bank of Canada governor—stepped in as Liberal leader and prime minister. Meanwhile, Trump’s return to the White House has shaken up the polling numbers, narrowing what had been a sizeable Conservative lead heading into 2024.
Expect this to be a tight race between Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, all of whom have already started tweaking their messaging with the election now officially underway.
The Liberals, clearly anticipating this call, have been busy making announcements. On Friday, Carney met with premiers and came away with a deal to build a national trade corridor to help move critical minerals and energy more efficiently across the country.
The next day, the government unveiled a major expansion to its dental care program. As of May, all eligible Canadians can apply—building on the program first launched in December 2023 for seniors.
It’s one of the crown jewels of the Liberal-NDP confidence-and-supply agreement. Notably, the Conservatives haven’t committed to keeping it.
Meanwhile, Poilievre has been on a policy blitz of his own.
He’s promising more support for skilled trades, including apprenticeship grants of up to $4,000, and new efforts to streamline regulations so workers can move between provinces more easily
On Saturday morning, Poilievre kicked off what felt like the first unofficial campaign day with a visit to a coffee shop in Ottawa’s east end, where he served baked goods behind the counter and chatted with voters. Speaking with a father whose adult son still lives in the basement, Poilievre pushed his promise to eliminate GST on new homes.
“Build, build, build, build, so you have a place to live,” he said.
He followed that with a stop at a local gym, where he was presented with a Canadian flag signed by athletes who competed in the Invictus Games in B.C. earlier this year.
With the writ now dropped and campaign buses getting gassed up, expect a whirlwind of promises, debates, and doorstep visits over the next five weeks. Whether you’re fired up or fatigued, one thing’s for sure—this snap election is about to take centre stage.
Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he and his party will spend the campaign highlighting their position as a voice for everyday Canadians and emphasizing their readiness to negotiate with US President Donald Trump—pointing to stronger candidates, increased funding, and improved preparation this time around.
Live from Rideau Hall • En direct de Rideau Hall https://t.co/xxeWqc0Hsd
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) March 23, 2025
