Canada Election Live: Key Races In Canada’s Crucial Parliamentary Election
BURLINGTON, ONTARIO
This Ontario riding southwest of Toronto is the ultimate in Canadian bellwethers, having elected a legislator from the winning party for 12 consecutive elections going back to 1984.
In 2021, Liberals got 45.7 per cent of the votes as compared to 37.3 per cent of the Conservatives.
Canada Election Live: Key Races In Canada’s Crucial Parliamentary Election
EDMONTON SOUTHEAST, ALBERTA
This is an oil-producing region of Canada and has been a challenge for Liberals because of their policies. Conservatives, who seem to regard the economy somewhat more than the climate, have a clear edge. Justin Trudeau never managed to win more than a handful of seats in this key region, but with him gone, the Liberals aim for a stronger show.
In Edmonton Southeast, former Liberal Cabinet minister Amarjeet Sohi has got a ticket from his party.
Canada Election Live: Key Races In Canada’s Crucial Parliamentary Election
CUMBERLAND-COLCHESTER, NOVA SCOTIA
Atlantic Canada has 32 seats and is located in the first time zone where results start showing. This region has four provinces under it, and becomes a key first-indicator of which way the result is heading due to early leads. This region is politically volatile and therefore, contests are close.
In 2019 the Liberals had managed a win by a very slim margin of a few hundred votes, but lost it to the Conservatives in 201.
Canada Election Live: Key Races In Canada’s Crucial Parliamentary Election
AURORA-OAK RIDGES-RICHMOND HILL, ONTARIO
Key to any victory is the so-called Golden Horseshoe, a riding-rich crescent that sits on Lake Ontario and includes Toronto as well as other cities. From 2018 to 2021, it was the Conservatives that held this key constituency. Some of the major issues in this crucial riding is extreme unhappiness over cost of living, a housing crisis, and immigration.
The Conservatives have strongly criticised the ruling Liberal government over these issues, and should they be able to wrest the riding, it will give them a big advantage.
Canada Election Live: Key Races In Canada’s Crucial Parliamentary Election
TROIS-RIVIERES, QUEBEC
Quebec, the province with a sizeable population and second-highest number of ridings in the country, is a key region for any party which wants a strong mandate in parliament. But Quebec is a challenge for all other parties as it is the only parovince in Canada which has its own party – the Bloc Quebecois. Quebec has been seeking independence from Canada and usually people vote for their own party.
But Trois-Rivieres is one of the ridings in Quebec where three, sometimes four parties, contend for the vote. The 2021 result was very close, with the Bloc winning by just 83 votes of the 58,110 that were cast.
Canada Election Live: Key Races In Canada’s Crucial Parliamentary Election
BURNABY CENTRAL, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Burnaby Central is a new constituency. The total seats in Canada’s parliament, each representing a riding, has gone up from 338 in 2021 to 343 to 2025. This is due to a rise in the country’s population. The result in this riding is important for Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party since it is in British Columbia, a stronghold for Sikh voters. The contest here for the NDP is with the Liberal Party of Canada and the result will show if they have the might to take on the party in power.
Jagmeet Singh, who had kept former PM Trudeau’s minority government alive in return for more social spending, says it is because of him that Canadians here benefited. Mr Singh is the NDP candidate here. However, latest polls suggest that he is running third in the riding with most Canadians backing the Liberals.
Canada Election 2025 Live: Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet Casts His Ballot
Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet casts his ballot on federal election day in Chambly, Quebec, on April 28, 2025.
Canada was voting Monday for a new government to confront a trade war and annexation threats by President Donald Trump, who pushed for the United States to absorb its neighbor as polling stations opened. (AFP)
Canada Election 2025 Live: Canada Conservative Leader To Trump: ‘Stay Out Of Our Election’
Canadian Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre blasted Donald’s Trump intrusion into Monday’s election, after the US president urged once again for the country to become part of the United States. (AFP)
President Trump, stay out of our election. The only people who will decide the future of Canada are Canadians at the ballot box.
Canada will always be proud, sovereign and independent and we will NEVER be the 51st state.
Today Canadians can vote for change so we can strengthen…— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) April 28, 2025
As Canada Votes Amid Trump Threats, He Posts Benefits Of Being 51st State
Trump has intervened in the election with his comments on social media drawing widespread attention. The US president has been vocal about his desire for Canada to become part of the United States, stating that it would be “the cherished 51st state.” He claimed that this would bring numerous benefits, including “ZERO TARIFFS” and “FREE ACCESS WITH NO BORDER.”
Canada Election 2025 Live: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre And Wife Anaida Vote In Ottawa
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and his wife Anaida depart a polling place after voting in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on April 28, 2025. (AFP)
Canada Election 2025 Live: Canadians Vote With Concerns About Trump Looming
Trump, in a social media post on Monday, reiterated his call for Canada to become the 51st state.
“Good luck to the Great people of Canada,” he said. “Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power, for free, to the highest level in the World, have your Car, Steel, Aluminum, Lumber, Energy, and all other businesses, QUADRUPLE in size, WITH ZERO TARIFFS OR TAXES, if Canada becomes the cherished 51st. State of the United States of America. No more artificially drawn line from many years ago.”
(Reuters)
Key Indian-Origin Candidates Running For Canada Federal Elections 2025
Maninder Sidhu, another MP from Brampton East, was elected in 2019 and won again in 2021. He has been a member of the standing committee on natural resources and the standing committee on transport, infrastructure, and communities. He too will be contesting for the same seat in 2025.
Key Indian-Origin Candidates Running For Canada Federal Elections 2025
Parm Bains won the elections in the 2021 federal election and is the Liberal Party MP for Richmond East – Steveston. His family immigrated to Canada from Punjab. Before venturing into politics, he was an instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and media personnel with the provincial government. He will be contesting for the same seat this year as well.
Key Indian-Origin Candidates Running For Canada Federal Elections 2025
Sukh Dhaliwal, a Member of Parliament for Surrey Newton since 2015, has been actively involved in the Surrey community and has chaired the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. A professional engineer, land surveyor, and small business owner, apart from being a politician, Dhaliwal has been a strong advocate for his constituents and has worked tirelessly to address their concerns.
Key Indian-Origin Candidates Running For Canada Federal Elections 2025
Sunjiv Raval, a successful businessman and Liberal Party candidate, is contesting the parliamentary election from Calgary Midnapore. Raval, who has been actively involved in community work and has represented several Indian community groups, said, “We are fighting on issues faced by the middle class, who have been demanding better infrastructure and sports facilities, affordable housing and work opportunities for all.”
Key Indian-Origin Candidates Running For Canada Federal Elections 2025
Jayesh Brahmbhatt, a real estate developer and People’s Party of Canada candidate, is contesting the election. Brahmbhatt, who immigrated to Canada in 2001, said, “We stand for freedom, responsibility, fairness and respect for all, and somewhere it resonates with me. I speak to a lot of people, and they seek change from this election.” Per TOI, he also said, “Political parties in Canada are now identifying Indians as an important community in the political arena, and sub-groups such as Gujaratis are making the most of this opportunity to be represented and be heard.”
Key Indian-Origin Candidates Running For Canada Federal Elections 2025
Jagmeet Singh, leader of the NDP since 2017, is not only contesting the election from his own constituency of Burnaby South but is also actively campaigning for NDP candidates across Canada. He was first elected to the legislative assembly of Ontario in 2011, representing Bramalea-Gore-Malton, until he entered federal politics.
Key Indian-Origin Candidates Running For Canada Federal Elections 2025
Kamal Khera, Minister of Health in PM Carney’s Cabinet, is contesting the election from the Brampton West constituency, which she has represented since 2015. She was one of the youngest women to be ever elected to Canada’s parliament. Khera, a registered nurse and community volunteer, moved to Canada with her Indian parents as a young girl. She has a bachelor of science degree from York University, Toronto.
Key Indian-Origin Candidates Running For Canada Federal Elections 2025
Anita Anand, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Cabinet, is running for re-election in the Oakville riding in Ontario. She is one of the few MPs who have retained ministerial posts from the previous Justin Trudeau government. Anand, who was previously the Minister of Transport, had announced her decision to step down from electoral politics but has since changed her mind.
HOW ARE WINNERS DECLARED?
Canada follows a first-past-the-post electoral system, which means that the winning candidate is one who has received the most votes in a constituency or riding, even if the total is not a majority of the ballots cast.
WHO ARE THE KEY CANDIDATES?
While Mark Carney, who is the current Prime Minister and leads the Liberal Party of Canada, and Pierre Poilievre, who is currently the Leader of the Opposition and heads the Conservative Party of Canada are the most likely candidates to become the next Canadian PM, there are some other key contestants who are aiming for the top spot.
These include Yves-Francois Blanchet, who leads the Bloc Quebecois party – a sovereigntist organisation, which means a party that has a history and ideology of supporting Quebec’s right to self-government or full independence from Canada, and Jagmeet Singh of the New Democratic Party, which has a leftwing ideology for legislation. Jagmeet Singh also has a history of being a pro-‘Khalistan’ sympathiser – which is rooted in a separatist ideology, and has been a cause of much friction with India.
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE CANADIAN POLLS?
Among Canada’s 10 provinces and 3 territories, the three regions in the northernmost part of the country – which are the largest parts of Canada, are so sparsely-populated, that each of these territories have just one seat. The three territories are called Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
WHAT IS THE COST OF THE 2025 CANADIAN ELECTION?
As most elections do, the parliamentary polls in Canada also comes at a fairly steep cost. According to estimates given by Elections Canada, the 2025 parliamentary elections will cost the state exchequer $570 million (Canadian Dollar), which is roughly $411 million (US Dollar).
WHO VOTES WHEN? TIMINGS FOR VOTING AND COUNTING OF BALLOTS
Canada has six time zones, so, for most Canadians to vote within a 3-hour window across time zones, Elections Canada has staggered the voting. The timings for voting in each time zone is given below:
- Newfoundland Time – 8:30 am to 8:30 pm local time (7am-7 pm ET – 11 am-11 pm GMT – 4:30 pm-4:30 am IST)
- Atlantic Time – 8:30 am to 8:30 pm local time (same as ET – 12:30 pm-12:30 am GMT – 6 pm-6 am IST)
- Eastern Time – 9:30 am to 9:30 pm local time (same as ET – 1:30 pm-1:30 am GMT – 7 pm-7 am IST)
- Central Time – 8:30 am to 8:30 pm local time (9:30 am-9:30 pm ET – 1:30 pm-1:30 am GMT – 7 pm-7 am IST)
- Mountain Time – 7:30 am to 7:30 pm local time (9:30 am-9:30 pm ET – 1:30 pm-1:30 am GMT – 7 pm-7 am IST)
- Pacific Time – 7 am to 7 pm local time (10 am-10 pm ET – 2 pm-2 am GMT – 7:30 pm-7:30 am IST)
Counting of ballots shall begin immediately after voting ends in each time zone. Leads and individual results are expected to be in shortly after – approximately 30 minutes of the last vote being cast. The leads and results shall be constantly updated on the Elections Canada website.
The result will be known by early-evening in India (early morning in Canada) on April 29.
Canada Election 2025 Live: First Polls Open
A person walks past election signs for various political parties in Montreal ahead of the opening of polls in Canada’s federal election on April 28, 2025. (AFP)
HOW MANY VOTERS? HOW MANY CONSTITUENCIES?
Canada’s electorate comprises of more than 28 million registered voters, who will elect 343 members of parliament or MPs, each representing a constituency of the world’s second-largest nation. In Canada, constituencies are popularly called ridings, and in contrast to the 2021 election, this year the number of ridings has gone up five – from 338 to 343.
The reason Canada is voting in April – six months prior to the originally scheduled parliamentary election in October – is because current prime minister Mark Carney said he is facing immense US pressure and his minority government is unable to withstand it effectively. Donald Trump is serious about his threat to make Canada the 51st state of the United States and has already imposed punishing tariffs on them. Mark Carney, who announced snap polls, has appealed for a strong mandate in order to deal with President Trump’s threats.
Canada Election 2025 Live: Canada Votes For New Government
Public broadcaster CBC’s poll aggregator on Sunday put the Liberals’ national support at 42.8 percent, with the Conservatives at 38.8 percent.
As with US elections, national polling numbers may not predict a result.
(AFP)
Canada Election 2025 Live: Canadians Set To Choose Their Next Prime Minister
Canadians began voting Monday for a new government to confront annexation threats from the United States and deal directly with President Donald Trump, whose trade war has defined the campaign.
The first polling stations to open in the massive country that spans six times zones were in the Atlantic province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
(AFP)
Canada Election 2025 Live: First Polls Open
First polls in Canada open, as Canadians get ready to choose their next Prime Minister