Jessica Murphy
BBC News, Toronto

I'm here in Toronto, and we are preparing for a snap election call – an election that has been widely expected for weeks.

Mark Carney, in his news conference after being sworn in as prime minister this month, had also strongly hinted Canadians should expect an election, saying he would be seeking "as strong a mandate that is needed for the time".

It's widely expected to be a short, nail-biter of a campaign.

The polls currently show a close race between the Liberals and the Conservatives – but pollsters warn the numbers are "volatile".

Image source, Getty Images

We've been taking a look at the Canadian political leaders who will define this election.

Next up is Yves-François Blanchet, who leads Bloc Québécois.

The Bloc Québécois is a Quebec nationalist party that only runs candidates in the French-speaking province, meaning its leader is unlikely to become Canada's next prime minister.

Still, they are a key player in Canadian elections, and their popularity in Quebec could determine the fate of the other major parties looking to form government.

Blanchet has led the party since 2019. He is known for his frankness, calling Trump's 51st state rhetoric nonsense.

On domestic issues, Blanchet has pushed for Quebec to diversify its trade partners and has asked for a prominent seat at Canada's economic planning table, noting that his province is home to the largest aluminium sector in the country – a commodity that has been targeted by US tariffs.

Blanchet has also suggested that the appetite for an independent Quebec will "come roaring back" when and if the US-Canada relationship stabilises.

Image source, Getty Images

We've been introducing the key leaders vying for power when Canada's federal election is called.

Let's now talk about Jagmeet Singh.

Singh, 46, is leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), a left-leaning party that traditionally focuses on worker and labour issues.

He made history in 2017 when he became the first ethnic minority and practising Sikh to lead a major political party in Canada.

In 2019, the former criminal defence lawyer was elected as an MP in a British Columbia riding, where he has served in public office since.

The NDP had helped the Trudeau Liberal government keep its hold on power since 2021, supporting it with needed votes in the parliament in exchange for support on progressive legislation.

But in late 2024, Singh tore up that "supply and confidence" agreement after Trudeau's cabinet directed its industrial relations board to impose binding arbitration to end a work stoppage at Canada's two largest railways.

At the time, Singh had said that the Liberals didn't "deserve another chance from Canadians".

A big question will be whether the NDP will be able to grow the number of seats they occupy in the House of Commons and maintain official party status.

Image source, Getty Images

We're taking you through the big names in Canadian politics, and next up is leader of the opposition.

Pierre Poilievre is known for his confrontational style of politics.

In recent years, Poilievre has tirelessly attacked the Liberals and Trudeau, saying that their "disastrous" and "woke" policies have worsened the quality of life in Canada, while promising a return to "common sense politics" if his party were to form government.

It is a message that has resonated with many Canadians who have been worried about the country's housing crisis, stagnant wages and high cost of living.

But Poilievre has also been criticised for his populist style of politics and has drawn comparisons to Donald Trump – at a time when Canadians have rejected the US president's tariffs and his rhetoric that Canada should become the "51st state".

Poilievre has sought to shift his messaging since, distancing himself from Trump and vowing to put "Canada first".

• Read more: Poilievre on populism, immigration and Trump

Image source, Getty Images

We're now going to take you through the four big names to know when a snap election is called.

Let's start with the current PM, Mark Carney.

Carney, 59, has only been on the job for a handful of days.

His party overwhelmingly chose him - with more than 80% of the vote - to succeed Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader earlier this month.

For many in Canada and the UK, Carney is a familiar face. He was head of both the Banks of Canada and England, serving at the former during the 2008 financial crash and the latter during Brexit.

Carney is hailed for his financial expertise. He has also taken a defiant stance against US President Donald Trump, vowing retaliation against his tariffs and stating that Canada will never become the 51st state.

But Carney is politically untested. He has never held elected public office in Canada. And he is not strong with his French, which could be a liability in the French-language debate and the province of Quebec.

• Read more: How Britain's former top banker became Canada's prime minister

Image source, EPA

At midday in Ottawa (16:00 GMT), Mark Carney will arrive at Rideau Hall in Ottawa for a meeting with Canada's Governor General.

Then at 12:30 (16:30 GMT), he's scheduled to hold a media conference.

Rideau Hall is a historic building in the centre of the capital, overlooking the Ottawa River. Carney and his new cabinet were sworn in there last week.

It's also the official residence of Governor General Mary Simon, who represents Canada's head of state, King Charles III.

Like in other Commonwealth countries, the King – and by extension, Simon – has a largely ceremonial role in Canada's political system.

But in order to call a snap election, Carney needs to request Simon to dissolve the parliament.

Justin Trudeau led Canada for almost 10 years, from his first election as Liberal leader in the fall of 2015 to now. After Trudeau announced he would step down, the Liberal party voted for Mark Carney to replace him.

Trudeau oversaw one of the more tumultuous periods in the country’s history, which included dealing with the first Trump administration, the Covid-19 pandemic and Donald Trump’s latest tariffs against Canada.

Trudeau legalised marijuana federally in Canada, and has been credited with helping bring in consequential social programs like $10-a-day childcare and a national dental care programme for low-income Canadians.

On his last day in office, Trudeau posted a goodbye video on his social media accounts.

“I’m proud to have served a country full of people who stand up for what’s right, rise to every occasion and always have each other’s backs when it matters most,” Trudeau says in the video.

“This may be my last day here in this office, but I will always be boldly and unapologetically Canadian. My only ask is that no matter what the world throws at us, you always be the same.”

In another sign that the new prime minister is preparing to call a snap election today, Mark Carney's Liberal Party took to social media late on Saturday to confirm where he plans to run.

The Liberals say the former central banker will launch his first bid for elected office in the suburban Ottawa riding of Nepean.

"Ottawa is where Mark Carney raised his family, devoted his career to public service, and always gave back to his community," the party wrote on X, adding it's "thrilled" to announce he will be its candidate for Nepean in the next election.

Carney's race will take place in a district that was once part of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre's former riding of Nepean-Carleton. It was redistributed as the Carleton riding in 2015, and the two ridings now border each other.

A riding is the term used to describe an electoral district.

As Canada gears up for an election this year, the BBC wants to hear from voters across the country. Tell us here if you would like to be part of our coverage. We may contact you for future stories.

You can also get in touch in the following ways:

Email: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, external

WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803

Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay

The BBC hit the streets in Canada to find out how locals were feeling about the escalating trade war with the US, brought on by President Donald Trump's tariffs.

"What an idiotic thing for an American president to do," one person said. Many of them said they were going out of their way to buy Canadian products over American-made goods.

Check out the video above to see what these Canadians had to say.

Image source, Getty Images

Hundreds gathered in Toronto yesterday to protest against America and President Donald Trump.

The protest was part of the grassroots "Elbows Up, Canada!" campaign being launched in response to President Trump's comments that he wants Canada to become the 51st US state, as well as the escalating trade war started by the US.

Elbows up is a hockey phrase being repurposed as a slogan to push back against the US.

Image source, Getty Images

Brandon Livesay
Reporting from New York

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Canadian politics.

Today we are expecting Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney to call a national election. He is scheduled to speak with Canada's governor general in about 1.5 hours' time, and has a media conference not long after that.

Carney will need to request Governor General Mary Simon dissolve the parliament in order to trigger the election.

At this stage, local media think the election day will be 28 April.

Stick with us, we will bring you all the twists and turns of today as they happen.