22 March: Canadians will head to the polls on Monday, April 28, as Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to request the dissolution of Parliament, officially launching a snap federal election.
According to sources, Carney will meet with Governor General Mary Simon on Sunday to initiate the process. The election campaign will span the minimum length permitted under Canadian law—37 days—a timeline that mirrors the duration of the 2021 federal election. This short campaign also places advance voting over the Easter long weekend.
Parliament, which has been prorogued since early January following former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation on January 6, was scheduled to reconvene this Monday. However, with an election call coming the day before, the session will no longer resume as expected.
Carney, who was confirmed as the new Liberal leader on March 9 following a swift leadership contest, currently does not hold a seat in the House of Commons. By calling the election now, he avoids the need to deliver a throne speech or face an early confidence vote, both of which could have posed risks to the Liberal minority government.
This unexpected early election sets the stage for a fast-paced national campaign and comes just weeks after Carney officially took the party’s reins.
