Canadians will vote for a new government on Monday in an election that has been upended by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and his threats to make Canada the 51st state. (AP video: Mike Householder)
Canadians are headed to the polls to decide whether to extend the Liberal Party’s decade in power or hand control to the Conservatives. They’ll pick new Prime Minister Mark Carney or populist opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, but the election is also a referendum of sorts on someone who isn’t even Canadian: Donald Trump.
The country is also grappling with the aftermath of a fatal car ramming attack on Saturday in Vancouver. The tragedy prompted the suspension of campaigning for several hours. Police ruled out terrorism and said the suspect is a local man with a history of mental health issues.
As Canadians head to the polls, the country has been swept by an unprecedented surge of nationalism, spurred by Trump’s attacks on the nation’s sovereignty and his continued insistence that Canada become the U.S.’ 51st State.
On coffee shops menus, Americanos have been replaced by “Canadianos.” Provincial liquor store shelves have been cleared of American wines and spirits. Many are choosing to forgo trips down south and boycotting American products. Boos ring out at stadiums when “The Star-Spangled Banner” plays.
It’s a highly unusual posture for Canadians, who had long seen the U.S. as their closest friend and ally and are typically known more for apologizing than flag-waving.
Some 343 parliamentary seats are being contested in Monday’s general election, up from 338. That’s because of changes to boundaries.
To reach majority status in the next Parliament, a party would need to secure a minimum of 172 seats.
All ballots are counted by hand by federal election officials in the presence of witnesses, usually campaign or party representatives. Additional details of how votes are counted depend on how the ballots were cast.
Ballots cast in person on election day are counted at each local polling place after polls close. Ballots cast in person before election day and mail ballots cast from within the district are tabulated at the district’s local Elections Canada office.
Ballots from incarcerated voters, members of the military, Canadians living overseas and voters who live in Canada but outside their home district (such as some college students) are counted at a centralized Elections Canada facility in Ottawa. In some cases, the counting of these ballots may begin up to 14 days before election day, although the results cannot be released until after polls close.
Election day came as the country grappled with the fallout from a deadly weekend attack at a Vancouver street fair.
Police have ruled out terrorism and say the suspect is a local man with a history of mental health issues.
The attack led to the suspension of campaigning for several hours.
▶Read more about the attack in Vancouver
Unlike in the United States, where federal elections are administered by state and local elections officials, the Canadian federal election is administered on a national level by Elections Canada, an independent, nonpartisan government agency.
Other parties are fielding candidates as well.
One is Jagmeet Singh, who heads the progressive New Democratic Party and responded on X to Trump’s remarks by telling voters that “You can protect what makes Canada, Canada. Every New Democrat you send to Ottawa will stand up for our country. And never back down.”
There’s also Yves-François Blanchet, who leads Bloc Québécois, a Quebec nationalist party.
In March, Carney called for Parliament to be dissolved to pave the way for the election. At the time, the Liberals held 152 seats and the Conservatives had 120. Bloc Québécois held 33 seats and the NDP held 24. Others were held by unrecognized parties, independents or were vacant.
Canada is a constitutional monarchy, with Britain’s King Charles III serving as ceremonial head of state. The country’s electoral system is modeled after the U.K.’s.
A member of the House of Commons will be elected in each of the nation’s 343 federal electoral districts, also known as a constituency or a riding. The winner in each district is the candidate who receives the most votes. A majority vote is not required to get elected to Parliament. This is sometimes called a “first-past-the-post” system.
The leader of the party that wins a majority of seats in the House of Commons will form a new government and serve as prime minister. If no party wins a majority, a party — usually the one with the most seats — can form a minority government but must rely on support from some opposition members. In rare cases, two or more parties might reach a formal agreement to form a coalition government together.
Canada’s Parliament has an upper chamber called the Senate, but those members are appointed and do not play a role in determining the prime minister.
Trump’s trade war and annexation threats have upended Canada’s election and improved the fortunes of the Liberal Party, and might have contributed to record early voting, with 7.3 million Canadians casting ballots before election day.
The Liberals and the country’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, looked headed for a crushing defeat until the American president started attacking Canada’s economy and even threatening its sovereignty, including suggesting it should become the 51st state.
Trump’s dumping on Canada has infuriated its people and stoked a surge in Canadian nationalism that has helped the Liberals flip the election narrative.
The opposition Conservative Party’s leader, Pierre Poilievre, hoped to make the election a referendum on former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose popularity declined toward the end of his decade in power as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged.
But Trump attacked, Trudeau resigned and Carney, a two-time central banker, became the Liberal Party’s leader and prime minister.
▶Read more about the impact of Trump’s trade war on Canada’s election
Toronto resident Reid Warren says he voted Liberal because Poilievre “sounds like mini-Trump to me.” And he says Trump’s tariffs are a worry.
“Canadians coming together from, you know, all the shade being thrown from the States is great, but it’s definitely created some turmoil, that’s for sure,” Warren says.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and the governing Liberal Party appeared poised for a historic election defeat until Trump slapped heavy tariffs on Canada and began threatening its sovereignty.
Trump’s attacks have infuriated Canadians, who are canceling trips to their southern neighbor and avoiding buying American goods when they can. The surge in Canadian nationalism has bolstered the Liberals’ poll numbers.
The opposition Conservative Party had hoped to make the election a referendum on former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose popularity cratered as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged. But after decades of bilateral stability, the vote is now expected to focus on who is best equipped to deal with Trump.
Read more about what’s at stake in this election
Poilievre, who has been criticized for not taking a firmer stance against Trump, has responded to the U.S. president’s post with a post of his own.
“President Trump, stay out of our election. The only people who will decide the future of Canada are Canadians at the ballot box,” he posted. “Canada will always be proud, sovereign and independent and we will NEVER be the 51st state.”
Poilievre and his wife voted in their suburban district near the nation’s capital, Ottawa.
Trump’s attacks have put Poilievre and the Conservative Party on the defensive. Trump said last week that Canada would “cease to exist as a country” if the U.S. stopped buying its goods.
▶Read more about Trump’s stand on Canada
