Canada’s Federal Election: Carney vs. Poilievre – What You Need to Know

Canadians will vote in an important federal election on Monday, April 28. Current Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney will compete against Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. The first results will be available from 7 to 7:30 pm EST, with most results coming in at 9:30 pm EST. This election follows a tough political time for Canada after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suddenly stepped down.

If Carney doesn’t win, he will be the shortest-serving Prime Minister in Canada’s history. Poilievre, his opponent, has gained support with his “Canada First” plan, which focuses on economic changes and stricter immigration rules.

At the end of their campaigns, both leaders wrapped up their final speeches, discussing U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Carney, running for the Liberal Party, has promised to lower the federal deficit, cut personal income tax for the lowest earners, and remove the Goods and Services Tax for first-time home buyers purchasing homes under $1 million.

Poilievre, leading the Conservative Party, has also promised to reduce the lowest tax bracket by 15%, remove the industrial carbon tax, and eliminate the federal sales tax for first-time home buyers buying homes up to $1.3 million.

A recent Nanos poll shows that the difference between the two leading parties is about 4 percentage points, slightly more than it was the day before. Poilievre’s party was leading by over 20 points in many polls back on January 6, when Trudeau announced he would resign.

Voting is open from 9 am to 9 pm EST. Around 28 million registered voters will choose members of parliament in 343 areas called ridings. Since Canada has six different time zones, polling times vary. In Newfoundland and Labrador, which has seven seats, polls close at 7 pm EST. Counting will begin after polls close across all provinces by 10 pm. British Columbia’s 43 electoral districts are especially important battlegrounds in this election.