What was the 2025 federal election?

The 2025 federal election was held on Monday, April 28, 2025, the 45th general federal election in Canadian history. The election produced a Liberal minority government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, who had succeeded Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader on March 9, 2025. The Liberals won 169 of 343 seats (about 49 per cent), the Conservatives won 116 seats (about 34 per cent) and formed the Official Opposition under leader Pierre Poilievre, the Bloc Québécois won 35 seats, the New Democratic Party won 16 seats, and the Green Party won 7 seats.

The election was triggered by Justin Trudeau's resignation as Liberal leader on January 6, 2025 (after a December 2024 Cabinet shuffle and Chrystia Freeland's resignation as Finance Minister), the subsequent Liberal leadership campaign, Mark Carney's election as Liberal leader on March 9, 2025, his swearing-in as Prime Minister on March 14, 2025, and the dissolution of Parliament for the general election on March 23, 2025. The 36-day election campaign focused heavily on the federal response to Donald Trump's December 2024 to January 2025 tariff threats.

The principal campaign issues included Canada-US trade tensions, federal carbon pricing (which Carney removed the consumer fuel charge for on April 1, 2025), housing affordability, immigration, healthcare wait times, and Indigenous reconciliation. Carney campaigned on managing the Canada-US relationship and diversifying Canadian trade. Poilievre campaigned on the slogan 'Common-Sense Conservatives Build Homes, Not Bureaucracy' and emphasised housing, affordability, and government efficiency. The Conservatives gained the most seats from 2021 (up from 119 to 116, but with a higher seat count increase due to redistribution increasing total seats from 338 to 343).

Voter turnout was about 62 per cent, similar to 2021. Major regional results: Liberals dominant in Ontario (75 of 122 seats) and Atlantic Canada (28 of 32 seats), competitive in Quebec (35 Liberals, 35 Bloc, 6 Conservatives, 2 NDP). Conservatives dominant in the Prairies (51 of 65 seats) and Alberta (33 of 37 seats). British Columbia split (16 Liberals, 21 Conservatives, 6 NDP). Mark Carney represented Nepean, Ontario (his second federal-election win). Pierre Poilievre represented Carleton, Ontario (his eighth federal election). The 2025 result produced a Liberal minority that depends on the support of opposition parties for major legislation.