Prime Minister Mark Carney has called a snap federal election, setting the stage for a high-stakes five-week campaign that will see Canadians head to the polls on April 28, six months ahead of the fixed election date.
Carney made the formal request Sunday morning during a visit to Governor-General Mary Simon at Rideau Hall.
His minority government, sworn in just nine days ago on March 14, now seeks a renewed mandate amid rising economic tension with the United States and deepening domestic affordability concerns.
It marks the second time in 10 days the Prime Minister has made the short walk up the Rideau Hall driveway — first to form government, now to dissolve Parliament.
“We’ve laid the foundation,” Carney told reporters outside Rideau Hall.
“But what’s needed now is a mandate from the Canadian people to finish the job — to build a stronger, fairer economy and to negotiate with strength on behalf of Canadians in the face of President Trump’s new tariffs.”
With 343 seats now contested under Canada’s updated electoral map, the campaign will be the shortest allowed under federal law.
The timing means advance voting will coincide with Easter weekend, a potential challenge for turnout and campaign logistics.
A Campaign Defined by Economic Anxiety
The Liberal campaign launched Sunday with a signature promise: a middle-class tax cut that would reduce the lowest federal income tax bracket by one percentage point. According to the Liberal Party, this would yield savings of up to $825 annually for dual-income families and benefit more than 22 million Canadians.
His plan for Canadians includes getting rid of the carbon tax for good, removing the sales tax on new homes, building pipelines and energy projects, limiting immigration, tightening border and crime policies, and making life more affordable and communities safer.
The Liberals are framing the election as a test of leadership on the economy and trade, positioning Mr. Carney — a former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England — as the right figure to navigate uncertainty sparked by new American protectionism.
“Canadians are ready for a plan that helps them get ahead, not just get by,” Carney said. “We will stand firm in the face of President Trump’s unfair tariffs and defend Canadian workers.”
Conservatives Pitch Sharp Economic Contrast
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre responded with a blistering critique of the Liberal record, accusing the government of economic mismanagement, inflating housing prices, and failing to deliver on affordability.
Poilievre introduced his “Bring It Home” plan, which includes scrapping the federal carbon tax, removing the sales tax on new homes, easing rules that restrict energy development, enforcing mandatory jail time for repeat offenders, and limiting immigration by ending support for the “Century Initiative,” a plan to grow Canada’s population to 100 million by 2100.
He also took aim at the escalating trade conflict with Washington, vowing to counter U.S. tariffs by strengthening domestic industry and restoring energy independence.
“We will never be part of the United States. We will never give up our sovereignty,” Mr. Poilievre said. “This election is about standing on our own feet — and bringing home our jobs.”
Brantford–Brant Back in Play
In Brantford–Brant, the campaign is expected to draw heightened attention as the new electoral boundaries take effect and affordability remains a top issue.
The riding has swung between the Liberals and Conservatives in recent years, and local candidates are likely to tailor their messages to reflect national concerns around housing, inflation, and trade — all of which resonate sharply in the region.
Voters in Brantford–Brant — a mix of urban, suburban and rural communities — will now face a compressed timeline to evaluate platforms, attend debates, and cast their ballots.
All major parties are expected to nominate candidates in the coming days.
As Canadians prepare to choose their next government, the 2025 election is shaping up to be a referendum on leadership, economic direction, and the country’s ability to assert itself amid rising global uncertainty.
