Summary

Watch: Will Canada's re-elected PM agree to meet Trump?

Live Reporting

Edited by Neha Gohil, with chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet in Ottawa

  1. In pictures: Canada goes to the polls

    It’s been a few hours now since the final polling stations opened in British Columbia and Yukon, meaning that voting is now in full-swing across Canada.

    Here's a quick look at the voting process has been playing out across the country.

    A queue of people outside as they wait to get into a voting stationGetty Images

    In the capital Ottawa, we are seeing long queues as people wait to cast their vote

    A woman drops a paper into a white box as people sit in front of her moderating the processGetty Images
    A woman drops a ballot into a white box. There's queues of people behind her and more boxes along a tableGetty Images

    There are 122 seats up for grabs in the province of Ontario - including the opposition leader Pierre Poilievre's seat in Carleton

  2. Concerns on immigration and women's rights drive young woman to vote Conservative

    Eloise Alanna
    Reporting from Montreal

    Two pictures alongside one another. The back of a woman's head in one, and a close up of a hand holding sunglasses in the other

    A young woman in Montreal, who identifies as "fiscally conservative and socially liberal," has voted for the Conservatives despite long-standing support for the Liberals.

    She says if her peers knew how she voted, she would be seen as "harsh and selfish" and fears facing repercussions.

    Sitting on a park bench in the sunshine, she explains that her views have shifted because she believes the country needs to "correct course" to better protect women's rights.

    "I’m pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ, and pro-immigration," she says, "but some of the views being imported into Canada are very anti-woman."

    As a woman, she explains that she sees a "distain towards women which is chilling to the bone," adding: "I don’t have hatred towards that, I have fear."

    She argues the current government is not doing enough to uphold Canadian values, particularly on women’s rights, and says she is tired of the Liberal's "smoke and mirrors, with nothing behind it."

    She also voices concern about the economic struggles faced by immigrants, saying many are unable to send money home or access healthcare. "I want people to live the Canadian dream," she says, "but we need immigrants with compatible views."

    Ultimately, she says her decision is about cutting back on immigration and foreign aid. “The Conservatives may not fix things overnight," she says, "but they are the only ones who can give us hope."

  3. Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-François Blanchet casts his vote

    Man behind a voting screen in a suit with glasses onReuters

    In Chambly, Quebec, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-François Blanchet has cast his vote in today's election.

    He heads the Quebec-sovereigntist party that only runs candidates in the French-speaking province.

    The 60-year-old became leader of the Bloc in 2019, but first got involved in politics in the 1980s as a member of the youth committee of the provincial Parti Québécois.

    A man in a grey suit smiling as he drops ballot into boxReuters

  4. Voters in Ottawa say it felt like Poilievre was in Trump's corner until it became political liability

    Nada Tawfik
    Reporting from Ottawa

    Two women in a car park smiling at the camera. They both has black puffer coats on but its sunny outside

    We’ve been speaking to a few voters who turned up shortly after polls opened in the Ottawa South riding. Several issues came up from healthcare and housing to the economy more broadly.

    But among liberal voters, one overarching theme was the threats from US President Donald Trump.

    It’s the first time Vency Okoye is voting, and she said the last few months had decided her vote.

    She describes Prime Minister Mark Carney as strong, confident and fiscally responsible. “He has a PhD in economics and the man actually knows what he’s doing,” she tells me.

    Friends Michelle and Claudia say it felt like Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre was really in Trump’s corner until it became a political liability.

    “It definitely felt very wishy washy and didn’t ring true for me,” Michelle says.

    Another woman told me that it took the conservative leader “so long to say something against the country downstairs” that she felt it showed weakness.

  5. The US and crime on the minds of some Canadians

    Ali Abbas Ahmadi
    Reporting from Toronto

    Zhu Zhang is wearing a green winter jacket over a stripped burgundy and black sweater. Behind him is a yellow sign with the word: "VOTE" in black and a black arrow.BBC / Ali Abbas Ahmadi

    I'm speaking to voters in the Scarborough-Agincourt riding on the outskirts of Toronto.

    Zhu Zhang, an engineer who has just cast his vote, tells me that the "deal with the United States" and immigration were his biggest concerns.

    "If the Conservatives win, they will bring some change - especially with criminals", he says, emphasising that crime is a big problem in the Greater Toronto Area.

  6. Thumbs up from Poilievre as opposition leader casts vote

    Pierre Poilievre smiles and gives a thumbs up as he exists a polling place in Ottawa. He is wearing a blue suit over white shirt and a blue tie. He is wearing a Canada flag pin on his suit. To his right is his wife Anaida who is also smiling. She is wearing a brown jacket over a blue blouse.Getty Images

    Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre just voted in Ottawa where he is MP for Carleton, where 91 candidates are on the ballot.

    Poilievre has represented the riding since 2004.

    He was accompanied to the polling station by his wife Anaida.

  7. Trump, tariffs and several time zones: Canadians cast their votes

    Asya Robins
    Live reporter

    Voters lining up outside a polling station prior to opening to cast their ballots in OttawaGetty Images

    The snap election Canadians are voting in today was called by Prime Minister Mark Carney after he took control of the Liberal Party, replacing his colleague, Justin Trudeau.

    Here’s a quick look at what has happened so far today, following an electoral campaign dominated by US President Donald Trump’s claims of Canada becoming a 51st US state, and tariffs on Canadian exports south of its border.

    • Polls have now opened across all of Canada. Voting will continue throughout the day with the last polls scheduled to close at 22:00 EDT (03:00 BST)
    • Roughly 7.3 million people - about a quarter of all eligible voters in the country - have already voted in advance polls, according to Elections Canada
    • Earlier, US President Donald Trump urged Canadians to vote towards becoming "the cherished 51st State of the United States of America", in a post on his Truth Social account
    • In response, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poillievre told Trump to "stay out of our election", adding that Canada "will NEVER be the 51st state”
    • And in an apparent reference to Trump, Liberal leader Mark Carney told Canadians that Canada decides "what happens here"

    We'll continue to bring you the latest developments throughout the day, so stick with us.

  8. In pictures: Canadians line up to vote as polling stations now open across the country

    Polls in all Canadian provinces are open and we're seeing images coming through of people waiting in queues to cast their votes.

    People line up outside a polling station to vote in Canada's federal election, in Toronto, OntarioReuters

    Voters in Toronto have been heading to their local polling stations to cast their votes

    People line up outside a polling station to vote in Canada's federal election, in Toronto, Ontario,Reuters

    Canada has six different time zones, so polling stations will close at different times in different provinces, with the last closing at 22:00 EDT (03:00 BST)

    An Elections Canada worker opens the polling station on the day of the election in NewfoundlandReuters

    Newfoundland was the first province to open polls this morning, along with parts of Labrador. The last places voting opened was in Yukon and some areas of British Columbia

  9. Canada should be 'united and strong' against US, Liberal Party leader says

    Carney speaking at a lectern with lots of red signs being held up behind himGetty Images

    Liberal leader Mark Carney tells Canadians that Canada decides "what happens here", in what appears to be a reference to President Trump, who repeated his calls for Canada to become the 51st US state in a post on Truth Social earlier today.

    In a video posted on X, Carney tells the public to choose to be "united and strong" against the "crisis in the United States," which he says doesn’t stop at Canadian borders.

    He says the US can "become divided and weak, but this is Canada".

    Earlier, Carney’s opponent Pierre Poilievre also responded to Trump, which you can read in our previous post.

  10. Conservative leader tells Trump to stay out of the election

    Headshot of Poilievre speaking as he holds a microphone and has a fist raisedGetty Images

    As we have just reported, US President Donald Trump has posted on social media, reiterating claims that he wants to make Canada the 51st state of America.

    In response, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre has told Trump to “stay out of our election”.

    Posting on X, Poilievre says the only people "who will decide the future of Canada are Canadians at the ballot box.

    "Canada will always be proud, sovereign and independent and we will NEVER be the 51st state."

    He adds that Canadians can vote for change so they can “stand up to America”.

    Poilievre was the first leader to respond to President Trump's post- we will bring you the reaction from other party leaders if we get them.

  11. Trump calls on Canada to vote for becoming 'cherished' 51st US state

    Close-up shot of Donald TrumpGetty Images

    US President Donald Trump has posted on his Truth Social account urging Canadians to vote towards becoming "the cherished 51st State of the United States of America".

    "Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power, for free, to the highest level in the World, have your Car, Steel, Aluminum, Lumber, Energy, and all other businesses, QUADRUPLE in size, WITH ZERO TARIFFS OR TAXES," he writes.

    The US president calls to end an "artificially drawn line from many years ago", adding: "Look how beautiful this land mass would be."

    He also says America "can no longer subsidize Canada with the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year that we have been spending in the past" unless it is a US state.

  12. Retired US historian casts his first ballot as a Canadian

    Eloise Alanna
    Reporting from Montreal

    Bob Croskey is wearing a black jacket over a blue shirt and a black inner shirt. He has a white beard and is wearing glasses and a round black hat. Behind him, a yellow sign with the word VOTE is pasted on the glass on the glass frame of a green door.BBC / Eloise Alanna

    Bob Croskey was first in line this morning at La Maisonnette des Parents, a community centre in Montreal’s Little Italy currently serving as a polling station.

    A retired historian originally from the United States, Bob is voting for the first time as a Canadian citizen.

    Though he says he remains “fundamentally American,” with family roots there stretching back over 200 years, he tells us he feels “deeply ashamed” of the United States today.

    “It’s deeply depressing that we have a criminal elected president of the US,” he says.

    Living in Canada, Bob says he feels “protected” and is “very glad and grateful” to the country for “taking me in."

  13. Final polls open - all of Canada is now voting
    Breaking

    Polls are now open in the rest of British Columbia, which will elect 43 MPs today and Yukon - one of Canada’s three northern territories - which has just one seat up for grabs.

    That means across all of Canada right now, the country’s political future is now being decided.

    We will continue to bring you the latest, stay with us.

  14. How many seats are up for grabs where polls have just opened?

    IN the background, there is blue skies with minimal clouds. In the foreground, there is a road and traffic lightsGetty Images

    Parliament Hill in Canada's capital city, Ottawa, which is in Ontario province

    There are six different time zones in Canada, and this means that polling stations across the country open at different times.

    Polls have just opened in a third group of areas, spanning several provinces across three of those time zones.

    Ontario - in Canada's most southern province, there are 122 seats up for grabs.

    Quebec - in the largely French-speaking province, there are 78 seats in the running.

    Manitoba - 14 seats are up for grabs in the central Canadian province.

    Saskatchewan - there are 14 constituencies in this province, also in the centre of Canada.

    British Columbia - in the western-most province of Canada, there are 43 seats available/

    Nunavut - voting is taking place for one person to represent the territory that has a population of about 40,000 people.

  15. Polls open in more Canadian time zones
    Breaking

    Voters in three more Canadian time zones are now able to have their say in polling stations.

    Polls are now open in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, parts of British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories and Nunavut territory.

  16. How and when are Canadian votes counted?

    A yellow sign with an arrow pushed into the grass next to a road, it says on it Elections Canada VoteGetty Images

    Unlike its southern neighbour, Canada’s ballots are hand counted by paid election workers in front of witnesses.

    Political parties can appoint members who will witness the vote count.

    Voting machines are not used for counting in Canada and the count begins when the polls close.

    The results available on election night are preliminary and are validated in the days following the election, then published online.

  17. What happened during the leaders' big TV debate?

    Watch: Key moments from Canada's general election debate

    Just under two weeks before the election, leaders of Canada's four major parties took to the stage to take place in a televised debate.

    It was a chance for the prime ministerial hopefuls to directly challenge their oppositions, and try to rally more support.

    Taking part in the debate were Liberal leader, and current Prime Minister, Mark Carney, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet.

    Carney took a lot of the heat on the night, as the leaders focused on his predecessor Justin Trudeau's policies.

    Watch: The BBC’s Lyse Doucet unpacked the impact that the debate would likely have on Canada's election

    But it was someone off stage who stole much of the spotlight - US President Donald Trump.

    A big question heading into the two-hour forum was whether Liberal leader Mark Carney, who has been leading in the polls, would stumble.

    Each leader was also asked about the US tariffs, and they appeared to concede that it is ultimately not an equal fight.

    Despite the frequent cross-talk, the tone overall was rather cordial.

    The general sense of decorum was apparent when the leaders were discussing the housing crisis. In a rebuttal to Poilievre, Carney appeared to stop himself before laying into his opponent.

  18. What do the major parties stand for?

    A composite photo on a red background showing leaders of Canada's official political parties, from left to right: NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, Liberal leader Mark Carney, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet, and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre

    From left to right: NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, Liberal leader Mark Carney, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet, and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre

    In Canadian elections, voters don’t directly vote for a prime minister but they choose between political parties.

    Here’s a quick summary of the main parties:

    Liberals - a centre-left party that has been in power for much of Canada's recent history. It is progressive on some social issues, like abortion and LGBT rights, but is also supportive of free markets.

    Conservatives - the other major player in Canadian politics is led by Pierre Poilievre. They stand for low taxes and government regulation in the economy.

    This cycle, their stance has mirrored other right-wing parties around the world, speaking against “woke” agendas and calling for reduced immigration.

    New Democratic Party - sits a little to the left of the Liberals and champions a social democratic society with some government regulation of the economy.

    The party takes progressive stances on social issues, such as immigration and the environment.

    Bloc Québécois - a Quebec-sovereigntist party that only runs candidates in the French-speaking province.

    Green Party - holds the fifth-largest amount of seats in the House of Common. They focus on championing a fairer future for all and protecting the climate.

  19. About a quarter of Canadians have voted in advance polls

    A blurred woman walking in front of a yellow sign which says advance poll elections CanadaGetty Images

    Early voting for this election has shattered records with about 7.3 million people already casting their ballots nationwide, according to Elections Canada - the independent agency that administers the polls.

    That is about a quarter of all eligible voters.

    In the 2021 federal election, 5.8 million Canadians voted early.

    Advance voting began 18 April and ended 22 April.

    Those who didn’t vote will have the chance to do so today. Early votes are counted after polls close, but election workers can request to start counting one hour before polls close, if the volume is high.

  20. Who is eligible to vote?

    A yellow sign with black writing pointing the way to a Canadian polling station. The sign reads: Elections Canada and below it says vote with an arrow pointing in the required direction.Reuters

    Although most of the country will vote today, many have cast their votes early in advance polls.

    It’s pretty simple. To vote in a Canadian election you must:

    • be a Canadian citizen
    • be at least 18-years-old, and
    • have proof of your identity and address