List of Canadian federal elections
Open-knowledge reference entry
Canada holds general elections, colloquially referred to as federal elections since the 1940s (and as dominion elections from 1867 to the 1940s), for the purpose of determining the political leadership of its national government, the Government of Canada (or the "federal government"), through democratic means. The last general election was held in April 2025, through which the incumbent Liberal government led by new party leader Mark Carney was re-elected with a minority mandate.
This article provides a summary of results for Canadian general elections that has taken place since the nation was formed (via confederation) in 1867. Upon the call of such a general election, all seats in the Canadian House of Commons are vacated and contested in local elections to determine its new representative known as a member of Parliament (MP). As of the election held in 2025, there are 343 MPs in Canada.
Electoral system
Like other Westminster-style parliamentary governments, Canadian voters exercise their democratic franchise indirectly by electing local representatives, known as members of Parliament (MPs), to the House of Commons, the lower house of the Parliament of Canada, via plurality voting (or the first-past-the-post system). All Canadian citizens age eighteen or above are entitled to vote in elections held for the electoral district they reside in. The head of the Canadian federal government, the prime minister of Canada, is typically the MP that leads the political party with the most seats in the House of Commons. They are normally chosen by virtue of being the leader of the political party with a majority of the seats in the legislature or having secured the needed support from other parties to command the confidence of Parliament.
Since 1929, Canadian federal elections have been held on Mondays, or on Tuesdays immediately after a Monday that is a statutory holiday.
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