Nearly 20 million Canadians cast ballots in the 45th federal general election held Monday, April 28, according to preliminary estimates released by Elections Canada.
The agency says approximately 19,583,016 voters participated in the election, representing a turnout rate of about 68.65 per cent.
To administer the vote, Elections Canada opened 492 offices, hired some 230,000 election workers and operated around 7,200 advance voting desks and 65,000 election day desks across 343 electoral districts.
Most voters — about 11 million — cast their ballot at their polling station on election day or in a long-term care facility. More than 7.2 million voted at advance polls between April 18 and April 21. Nearly 930,000 used a special ballot within their electoral district, while roughly 215,000 voted by special ballot from outside their district — including deployed military personnel, inmates, and electors temporarily away from home. Another 57,000 Canadians living abroad voted by special ballot.
In total, 16 registered parties were represented, with 1,959 confirmed candidates running nationwide.
“I want to thank the some 230,000 people who helped deliver the election,” said Stéphane Perrault, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. “Whether electors voted on election day or earlier at advance polls or by special ballot, election workers were there to serve them and to ensure that the integrity and secrecy of the vote was upheld.”
Elections Canada, an independent and non-partisan agency, reports directly to Parliament and will publish the official voting results and additional reports in the coming months.
Mark Carney, the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, was elected as Prime Minister and the Liberals captured a minority government.
“This has been one of the most consequential elections in our generation,” Carney stated.
“Thank you to those who put their name on the ballot last night, our thousands of volunteers who shared our positive message, and to Canadians across our country who have given us this government. I chose to enter politics, because I felt we needed big changes – big changes guided by strong Canadian values.”
Carney added: “Including three values that I want to highlight: humility, ambition, and unity. Values that I will do my best to uphold each day over the next four years as your Prime Minister. So today and every day forward, my message to every Canadian is this: No matter where you live, no matter what language you speak, no matter how you voted, I will always do my best to represent everyone who calls Canada home.”
Carney said President Trump is trying to break Canada, “so America can own us.
“We will never let this happen. Now is the time for ambition, to be bold, to meet this crisis with the overwhelming, positive force of a united Canada. We will fight back with everything we have to get the best deal for Canada. We will protect our workers and businesses. Above all, we will build an independent future for our country,” Carney said.
“A future that makes the best country on earth even better. It’s time to build twice as many homes every year, introduce new trade and energy corridors, create hundreds of thousands of good careers in the skilled trades, make Canada into an energy superpower in both clean and conventional energy, and build one Canadian economy, not thirteen.”
With a few polls still to report, the Liberals are projected to win 169 seats, followed by the Conservatives with 144, the Bloc Québécois with 22, the NDP with seven and the Green Party with one.
Locally, Dave Epp of the Conservative Party won the riding of Chatham-Kent—Leamington with 41,503 votes, securing 57.7 per cent of the vote.
“I’m truly honoured and humbled to be re-elected as your Member of Parliament for Chatham-Kent-Leamington,” Epp posted on social media.
“Thank you to everyone who placed your trust in me — your support means more than words can express. To the incredible volunteers, supporters, and voters who made this possible: thank you. This victory belongs to all of us.”
Epp added: “I remain committed to working hard for our families, our farmers, our small businesses, and every corner of this great riding. Let’s keep building a stronger, more prosperous Chatham-Kent—Leamington together.”
Liberal candidate Keith Pickard finished second with 25,745 votes, or 35.8 per cent.
Seamus McInnis Fleming of the NDP received 2,917 votes, representing 4.1 per cent, while People’s Party candidate Trevor Lee garnered 1,052 votes, or 1.5 per cent.
Green Party candidate James Plunkett earned 752 votes, or 1.0 per cent.
A total of 71,969 valid votes were cast, with 294 of 295 polls reporting, representing 99.66 per cent of total polls.
Voter turnout was 67.67 per cent, with 71,969 of 106,351 registered electors casting ballots.
The total population of the riding is listed as 134,226, Elections Canada officials say.
