Federal elections allow Canadians elect MPs who represent them

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Federal elections allow Canadian citizens to elect members of parliament representing the interests of the House of Commons. This is the core process of Canada’s representation of democracy. Understanding these rules helps voters understand their rights, such as voter qualifications, which is a common concern for young voters.

When is it called election?

According to the requirements of legislation on a fixed election date, Canadian federal elections are usually held every four years. The law requires that each election take place on the third Monday of the fourth calendar year after the last poll, starting on October 19, 2009.

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But that doesn’t prevent the election from being held earlier. The Prime Minister reserves the right to request elections at any time as long as it occurs within the five years of the last election.

The maximum duration of parliament is five years, as provided for Article 4 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Governor has the right to dissolve the parliament and convene elections according to the Prime Minister’s advice.

Once the parliament is dissolved, the governor of the parliament (effectively, the cabinet) issues a declaration ordering the issue of an election writ and establishing the election date.

How long will the election be?

Once an election is held, there will be some time-checking for the election period. Before December 1996, the minimum election period was 47 days, but after the Canadian Election Act amendment, it was shortened to 36 days (excluding Election Day, itself).

Therefore, the election or campaign period must be at least 37 days, not more than 51 days.

By law, Election Day must be on Monday. On the day of the election, Election Day is part of the election period.

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Carney held a quick election on Sunday, March 23 with a voting date scheduled for April 28, 2025. This means the election period will last 36 days.

How do party spending rules change during elections?

During the Canadian federal election, there have been significant changes in the rules of party spending.

During the elections, spending restrictions were imposed on registered political parties.

These limitations are calculated based on:

• $0.735 times the number of names in the election list
• Inflation adjustment factor
• The length of the election period (increase if it exceeds 37 days)

Expenditure limits apply to a wide range of election expenses, including advertising, surveys, transportation and office space

The parties must report their financial transactions and submit audited and publicly disclosed returns to the Canadian election.

If they submit appropriate financial reports and receive 2% of valid votes nationwide, or in the election area where the recognized candidate is elected, the registered party is eligible to receive 50% of the paid election fees to repay their valid election fees.

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Third-party spending is also regulated during the election period, with a total limit of $150,000 in any single election district, not exceeding $3,000.

What is the trend in voter turnout?

Voters turnout in Canada has been declining over the past few decades, which could have a significant impact on the upcoming Canadian election:

Turnout in federal elections has generally declined since the 1960s. In the 2021 federal election, the turnout was 62.2%, down from 67.0% in 2019 and 68.3% in 2015.

Younger voters always show lower turnout compared to older demographics. In the 2021 election, only 66% of Canadians aged 18-24 voted, while 83% of those aged 65-74.

Voters turnout varies across provinces. Prince Edward Island had the highest turnout (72.8%), with the lowest turnout (52.4%) in Newfoundland and Labrador Islands in the 2021 general election.

To address the problem of declining turnout, various measures have been proposed, including online voting options, to make voting more accessible and to continuously increase efforts to attract young voters.

The Canadian Conference Committee proposed several ways to increase voter participation among young people, including: it is easier and more meaningful to vote for first-time voters; and provides them with the tools they need to understand that they are relevant to their lives.

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