Federal vote could take place as early as April 28 as Carney seeks mandate before return to House
Prime Minister Mark Carney plans to call a snap federal election on Sunday, setting the stage for a vote as soon as April 28, according to sources who spoke to CTV News.
BNN Bloomberg reports that officials have yet to finalize whether election day will be April 28 or May 5, but a decision is expected shortly.
Carney, who became prime minister on March 14 after winning the Liberal leadership race days earlier, is preparing to visit Rideau Hall to request Governor General Mary Simon dissolve the 44th Parliament.
If the election proceeds as planned, it would come months ahead of the fixed election date.
While speaking at an announcement in Edmonton on Thursday, Carney declined to confirm the election call but emphasized, “the first person who will know whether the recommendation to call an election, it will be the governor general, as for convention.”
He stressed the need for a clear mandate, stating, “We’re offering a positive vision for the country, a vision of action. You can see the action that’s happened. I haven’t been prime minister for a week yet, and you can see what we’ve done thus far. We can do even more with that strong and clear mandate to move forward for the country, for all Canadians.”
Parliament had been scheduled to resume on Monday after a two-month prorogation following Justin Trudeau’s resignation announcement.
However, by calling an election on Sunday, Carney avoids delivering a throne speech or facing confidence votes that could threaten his Liberal minority government. He currently does not hold a seat in the House of Commons.
Polling data indicates a shift in political momentum since Trudeau’s resignation and US President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The latest Nanos Research survey, released Tuesday, shows the Conservatives holding a slight lead with 35 percent of voter support, while the Liberals follow closely at 34 percent.
Trump’s trade policies and Canada-US relations are emerging as central election issues.
According to the same survey, 26.8 percent of respondents identified Trump and US relations as their top concern, while jobs and the economy ranked second at 16.7 percent.
Other pollsters agree that a race that once seemed the Conservatives’ to lose is now unpredictable. With Canadian voters increasingly engaged, analysts expect continued volatility in polling numbers over the coming weeks.
“It’s an election that’s going to be worth watching,” said Pollara Chief Strategist Dan Arnold.
“We’ve got two rookie leaders in their first national campaigns, so I think there’s a lot of potential for ups and downs, especially with the wild card south of the border, which I’m sure will be put into this campaign in some way or another.”
Arnold pointed out that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who had positioned himself as the alternative to Trudeau, now faces a new dynamic.
“For a long time, Pierre Poilievre could kind of get by on being ‘not Justin Trudeau,’” Arnold said.
“But now there’s another ‘not Justin Trudeau’ on the ballot as well, too. So, people are taking a closer look at him. Both leaders have an opportunity to kind of shape opinions of themselves, to get better known in a good way or a bad way, and that can lead to both numbers rising or falling.”
Both Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh responded to the looming election call by outlining their positions.
Poilievre, who has been making frequent policy announcements, stated, “I want to bring it home, and that’s why we need to put Canada first. It’s time to bring home our jobs, energy, and economic sovereignty.”
Singh positioned the election as a choice between Carney and Poilievre, saying they “have already shown you they’re in it for the billionaires,” while the New Democrats “are going to continue to fight for you and your family.”
Carney has yet to confirm where he will run for his first seat in the House of Commons. Speculation suggests he could campaign in Alberta, downtown Toronto, or a riding in the nation’s capital.
This election introduces changes due to federal electoral district redistribution. The number of seats in the House of Commons has increased from 338 to 343.
