Federal party leaders are back on the campaign trail today, entering the final stretch of the election season as advance polls officially open across Canada. Following two nationally televised leaders’ debates earlier this week in Montreal, candidates are now focused on meeting voters directly and driving turnout at the ballot box.
Advance voting begins today and runs through Monday, with polling stations open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in most jurisdictions, offering Canadians an early opportunity to cast their ballots ahead of election day.
Liberal Leader Mark Carney is scheduled to make several campaign stops across southern Ontario. He’ll begin his day in Niagara Falls with a media availability, followed by a visit to a small business in Port Colborne and a community meet-and-greet in Brantford later in the evening. His itinerary signals a push to consolidate support in key battleground ridings across the Greater Toronto and Niagara regions.
Meanwhile, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will begin the day in Yamachiche, Quebec, where he plans to make an announcement and tour a local farm. Later, he will travel to Burnaby, B.C., to cast his own ballot and meet with leaders from the local Muslim community.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will hold a press conference in Montreal this morning, continuing his outreach efforts in Quebec after the debates.
The leaders’ return to the road follows two nights of back-to-back debates that focused on major national issues, including energy projects, trade tariffs, and immigration policy. While there were no clear knockout moments, political strategists say Poilievre managed to tone down his typically aggressive style, potentially appealing to more moderate voters. Carney, widely seen as the frontrunner, emerged relatively unscathed despite repeated efforts by opponents to link him to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s record.
Thursday night’s debate was followed by an unexpected change of plans when the Leaders’ Debates Commission cancelled a scheduled media Q&A with party leaders. The decision came after tense exchanges between journalists and representatives of the far-right media outlet Rebel News.
With just days remaining before Canadians head to the polls, leaders are intensifying their efforts to connect with voters on the ground and solidify support in what continues to be a highly competitive race.