Moved to Canada at some point and are a Canadian citizen now? Then, you’re eligible to vote in the federal elections. Every citizen of Canada has the right to vote in an election. Here’s a guide to the 2025 elections in Canada for new citizens.
Election day is April 28, 2025.
Canadian citizens will vote to elect officials to the House of Commons. At the federal level, Canada is split into 343 ridings. The candidate with the maximum number of votes in each riding is elected to the Commons as a Member of Parliament.
There are six main parties that you can vote for, with the leaders named in brackets:
- The Liberal Party (Mark Carney)
- The Conservative Party (Pierre Poilièvre)
- The New Democratic Party (Jagmeet Singh)
- The Green Party (Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault)
- Bloc Québécois (Yves-François Blanchet)
- People’s Party of Canada (Maxime Bernier)
How to vote in the 2025 elections in Canada?
To vote during the 2025 elections in Canada, you will need to register for a voter ID – doing so in advance is your best bet, although you can also sign up at the voting booth.
Find your electoral district & voting booth location.
Challenges facing new Canadian voters
According to Elections Canada, there are four major challenges facing citizens of immigrant background.
- New Canadians tend to vote at a lower rate, often due to reasons connected to the electoral process
- They show less interest in politics, although they are satisfied with the way democracy works in Canada
- They tend to be more aware of voter registration, but are less aware of the various voting methods and less likely to be informed about voting procedures
- They are less likely to be registered to vote
How do new citizens feel about the 2025 elections in Canada?
With immigrants making up nearly a quarter of Canada’s population, according to Statistics Canada, many first-generation citizens will be voting for the first time in their new home and are very keen to make their vote count.
“We live during uncertain times and need a leader who will make Canada economically stronger,” says Kingsley, who is originally from Ghana and lives in Hamilton, Ontario. “One of the biggest concerns for Canadians and immigrants alike at the moment is finding suitable employment, and whoever is elected to office needs to make that happen.”
“Recent citizens like me will vote in terms of what our concerns are,” adds Claudia, from Victoria, British Columbia. “When I moved here from Ecuador four years ago, things were very different from what they are now. There are concerns over cost of living, healthcare, housing, and employment, and I think electors will vote for the candidate they believe is in the best position to address them.”
Also read: Learn about Canada’s tax system and benefits as a newcomer
A refresher on Canada’s political system
Canada is a parliamentary democracy modelled on the Westminster system in the United Kingdom. At the top is the King or Sovereign (in this case, King Charles III), who is the head of state, while the Prime Minister of Canada is the head of government. Following Justin Trudeau’s resignation, Mark Carney of the Liberal Party has taken over as Prime Minister.
Canada’s government is split across three levels: federal, provincial/territorial, and local/municipal. The feds, based in the national capital of Ottawa, handle matters of a national and global interest.
Provincial/territorial governments handle issues such as education and healthcare in their regions, and municipal bodies deal with day-to-day matters such as parking, emergency services (such as police, fire, and ambulance), and public transportation.
(With inputs by Gautam Viswanathan)
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