LAKELAND - Canadians will be heading to the polls on April 28.
On March 23, Liberal Party of Canada leader Mark Carney asked to dissolve parliament, starting the 45th general election in Canada.
Serving as Members of Parliaments in the region ahead of the election being called were Conservative Party members Shannon Stubbs for the Lakeland riding, and Conservative Laila Goodridge for the Fort McMurray-Cold Lake riding.
As of March 24, there were no Liberal candidates for either the Lakeland riding or the Fort McMurray-Cold Lake riding listed on the party’s official website. Canada’s NDP website also did not show any candidates for either riding, as of Monday morning.
Tax cuts promised early
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre spoke to Canadians on Sunday, stating, if elected a Conservative government would “axe taxes, build homes, cut waste, lock-up criminals, secure our borders and unleash our resources to bring home our jobs and stand up to Trump from a position of strength.”
Shortly after the election was announced, the Liberal party also announced it would cut taxes if elected.
“Canadians are ready for change, and our Liberal plan will cut taxes for the middle class, create higher paying jobs, build the fastest growing economy in the G7, and stand strong against President Trump’s tariffs,” said Carney.
The middle-class tax cut would save the average two-income family up to $825 a year, by reducing the marginal tax rate on the lowest tax bracket by one percentage point, according to the Liberal Party.
The Conservatives announced they would cut the lowest income tax bracket from 15 to 12.75 per cent. It is estimated this would save a two-income family up to $1,800.
Elections Canada
“First, let me state that we are ready to deliver a secure and accessible election on April 28, and throughout the election period,” said Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault, on March 23, addressing Canadians.
“Returning officers across the country have been opening local Elections Canada offices and are already serving electors. We will be serving electors in close to 500 local offices throughout the election period.”
The election will be taking place using the revised electoral boundaries established after the redistribution exercise in 2023.
"The federal electoral map now includes 343 electoral districts,” said Perrault.
Canadians will have four main options to vote – voting in person on April 28, voting in person during advance polling days, voting in person at a local Elections Canada office, or voting by mail.
“For this election, we are aiming to increase the number of both advance and election day polling places to better serve electors and ensure that Canadians are closer to their voting locations,” said Perrault.
There will also be an expansion of early voting options for Indigenous communities, and the Vote on Campus program will be returning. Dates for Vote on Campus will be April 13 to 16.
Speaking about election security, Perrault stated, “Since the last election, there has been an ongoing and important discussion about election security and foreign interference. Importantly, the Hogue Commission concluded that the last two general elections were administered with integrity and that our institutions are robust.”
But the report does speak to challenges by foreign interference, “in particular with respect to disinformation,” said Perrault.
“Ensuring that an election is secure requires a whole-of-society approach. It requires all actors involved in elections - from Elections Canada to security agencies, as well as political parties and electors - to do their part.”
Elections Canada will “do everything we can to protect your right to cast a ballot, in secret, and to offer accessible and reliable services,” said Perrault.
