Canada election on April 28: Mark Carney vs Pierre Poilievre - What's at stake? | Today news

Canadians will go to the polls on April 28 to decide who will form the next government. With the departure of longtime Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the two most important contenders on the role Mark Carney of the Liberal Party and Pierre Poilievre of the Conservative Party are. Carney currently has a slight lead in the polls, but the Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, has narrowed the gap over the past few days. Trudeau’s resignation in January announced Justin Trudeau his resignation after almost a decade as the Canada Prime Minister. His decision came after he increased the party struggle and his personal unpopularity, which made him vulnerable to criticism. Trudeau’s resignation came amid deep anxiety caused by Donald Trump’s threats to impose potentially devastating rates and even annexed Canada, making it the 51st US state. This announcement caused a leadership match within the Liberal Party, with Mark Carney, former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, who won. Carney was sworn in as prime minister, but had an immediate challenge – he did not have a seat in the House of Commons, making him a political target for opposition parties. Carney was only in the role of nine days before calling a snap election. Key election players Mark Carney (Liberal Party): Established Prime Minister Carney is trying to obtain a mandate after being submitted to the resignation of Justin Trudeau. Carney, a former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, is working on his economic expertise and promises to tackle Canada’s housing crisis and economic instability through the government’s intervention. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative Party): Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party, emerged as the most important opposition challenge. Poilievre, a populist figure, focuses on deregulation and a market -driven approach to housing. His campaign also highlights a difficult stance on crime, pleads for stricter sentences and challenges certain charter of rights and freedom protection to address public safety problems. What’s at stake? Economic direction: The contrasting approaches of the candidates to economic governance are a central matter. Carney advocates stronger government interference to address urgent issues such as the housing crisis, while Poilievre promises to reduce government regulation and encourage private sector solutions. National Sovereignty: Both leaders made their position clear about the sovereignty of Canada. They rejected an idea of ​​Canada who held its independence to the United States. This issue is particularly sensitive in light of former US President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on rates and annexation. Public Safety and Social Issues: Poilievre has received a traction among voters by promising a hard stand on crime, which has echoed with those concerned about rising crime figures. Carney, on the other hand, focused more on social welfare policies and tackled revenue inequality. Smaller parties The New Democratic Party (NDP), Bloc Québécois and Green Party remain in the race. The focus shifts to the economy and Canada’s relationship with the US. Canada’s election system Canada’s parliamentary election system means that voters in 343 horses across the country effectively choose individual candidates rather than voting directly for a leader. The party that wins the most seats forms the government. 172 seats is the magic number for a majority government. Anything less means that the ruling party must work with others. Basic facts about the election will go a total of 28 million registered voters to the polls. The number of constituencies, known as Ridings, has increased by five since the last election in 2021 and expanded the voting districts to ensure more accurate representation of the population of Canada. The election will be managed by Elections Canada, an independent body responsible for overseeing the voting process. Voting papers will be listed by hand, with the results closed on the Canada website about 30 minutes after the polls. The Liberal Party holds 152 seats in the decomposed parliament in the decomposed parliament, held the Liberals 152 seats and ruled mainly by an offer-and-confidence agreement with the new Democratic Party (NDP), a left-wing progressive group with 24 seats. However, the NDP ended the agreement in September. The conservatives were the official opposition in the last parliament and secured 120 seats. The Bloc Quebecois, which only advocates in the predominantly French -speaking province of Quebec’s independence and field candidates, has held 33 seats. The remaining seats were divided between two Green Party members, three independent and four vacancies. First published: 27 Apr 2025, 03:12 AM IST