Federal elections allow Canadians elect MPs who represent them

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Federal elections allow Canadian citizens to elect the members of parliament who represent their interests in the House of Commons. It’s a process central to Canada’s representative democracy. Knowing the rules helps voters understand their rights, such as voter eligibility — a common concern among younger voters.

When is an election called?

Canadian federal elections are typically held every four years, as mandated by the fixed election date legislation. This law requires that each general election take place on the third Monday in October in the fourth calendar year following the previous poll, starting with October 19, 2009.

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But that does not prevent a general election from being called earlier. The prime minister retains the power to request an election at any time, as long as it occurs within five years of the previous election.

The maximum duration of a parliament is five years, as stipulated by Section 4 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Governor General has the power to dissolve parliament and call an election, acting on the advice of the prime minister.

Once parliament is dissolved, the Governor in Council (effectively the cabinet) issues a proclamation ordering the issue of writs of election and fixing the election date.

How long will the election be?

Once an election is called, there are some timing requirements governing the election period. Prior to December 1996, the minimum election period was 47 days, but it was shortened to 36 days (not including election day, itself) following amendments to the Canada Elections Act.

Therefore, the election or campaign period must be at least 37 days and no more than 51 days.

By law, election day must be on a Monday. Both the day the election is called and election day are part of the election period.

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Carney called a snap election on Sunday, March 23, with the voting date set for April 28, 2025. This means the election period will run for 36 days.

How do party spending rules change during the election?

During a Canadian federal election, party spending rules change significantly.

Spending limits are imposed on registered political parties for the election period.

These limits are calculated based on:

• $0.735 multiplied by the number of names on the electoral lists
• An inflation adjustment factor
• The length of the election period (increased if longer than 37 days)

The spending limit applies to a broad range of election expenses, including advertising, surveys, transportation, and office space

Parties must report their financial transactions and submit returns to Elections Canada for auditing and public disclosure.

Registered parties become eligible for a 50 per cent reimbursement of their paid election expenses if they file proper financial reports and receive at least 2 per cent of valid votes nationally or 5 per cent in electoral districts where they endorsed candidates.

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Third-party spending is also regulated during elections, with a limit of $150,000 total and no more than $3,000 in any single electoral district.

What are the trends in voter turnout and what role might that play?

Voter turnout in Canada has been declining over the past few decades, which could have significant implications for the upcoming Canadian election:

The turnout in federal elections has generally decreased since the 1960s. In the 2021 federal election, the turnout was 62.2 per cent, down from 67.0 per cent in 2019 and 68.3 per cent in 2015.

Younger voters consistently show lower turnout rates compared to older demographics. In the 2021 election, only 66 per cent of Canadians aged 18-24 voted, compared to 83 per cent of people aged 65-74.

Voter turnout also varies across provinces. Prince Edward Island had the highest turnout (72.8 per cent) and Newfoundland and Labrador had the lowest (52.4 per cent) among provinces in the 2021 election.

To address declining turnout, various measures have been proposed, including online voting options, making voting more accessible, and increasing efforts to engage young voters.

The Conference Board of Canada has suggested several ways to increase voter participation among young people, including: making voting easier and more meaningful for first-time voters; and providing them with the tools they need to understand its relevance to their own lives.

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