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4d ago

Canada’s Federal Election Sees Record Early Voting as Campaign Nears Final Stretch

With 7.3 million early ballots cast, Liberal leader Mark Carney holds a slim lead over Pierre Poilievre in a race defined by economic plans and U.S. trade tensions.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney attends a rally during his Liberal Party election campaign tour in Laval, Quebec, Canada April 22, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Osorio
Canadian conservative leader Pierre Poilievre (L) and liberal leader Mark Carney (R) during the English-language federal leaders' debate ahead of Canada's federal election. Credit: The Canadian Press / Alamy Stock Photo
(FILES) Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre (L) and Canadian Prime Minister and Liberal Party chief Mark Carney shake hands following the English Federal Leaders Debate broadcast at CBC-Radio-Canada, in Montreal, Canada, on April 17, 2025. The candidates to lead Canada after next week's election took starkly different paths to the height of national politics. Mark Carney, the Liberal Party leader, has never held elected office. The former central banker took over as prime minister just a few weeks ago, after parachuting into politics and winning a race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader. Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre was first elected to parliament in 2004, at age 25, and over two decades in Ottawa has moved up the political ranks, polishing his skills in debate and in delivering partisan blows. (Photo by Christopher Katsarov / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOPHER KATSAROV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre gestures after speaking during a federal election campaign stop in Montréal-Est, Que., Friday, April 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Overview

  • Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals lead the Conservatives by six points nationally, according to recent polls, as Canada approaches its April 28 federal election.
  • A record 7.3 million Canadians participated in early voting, marking a 25% increase compared to the 2021 election, reflecting heightened voter engagement.
  • Carney has campaigned on his economic expertise and promises to protect Canadian sovereignty in the face of U.S. tariffs and annexation rhetoric from President Donald Trump.
  • The Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, have pledged $75 billion in tax cuts and $34 billion in new spending, offset by $56 billion in planned reductions and a focus on cost-of-living issues.
  • Quebec emerges as a critical battleground, with Carney emphasizing federal support for the province’s cultural and economic concerns, while the Bloc Québécois defends its sovereignty-focused platform.