44th Canadian election set for September 20th

Image from OurCommons.ca

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dropped in on Governor General Mary Simon this morning and after a brief conversation on the affairs of state for the day, Canadians were sent off to an election campaign trail, with the writ of election dropped today and September 20th set for for Election Day 2021.

The election which mostly seems to follow the provincial election blue print from BC of a year ago, is one that is in motion for Mr. Trudeau to try to achieve a majority government. 

The Prime Minister stating that with decisions ahead that will have consequences for decades, Canadians should have a say in how that path will be followed.

“The decisions your government makes right now will define the future your kids and grandkids grow up in. So in this pivotal, consequential moment, who wouldn’t want a say? Who wouldn’t want their chance to help decide where our country goes from here?

The campaign launches with a pandemic back on the rise in the country, with many of the opposition parties having urged the PM to hold off on his plans.

Still, with a preamble of spending completed over much of this summer and the window short before winter arrives, Mr. Trudeau who currently is faring well in the polls, took the political risk that Canadians will reward him for his minority government work and offer endorsement of his policies for a full four year term.

House of Commons seating chart from Our Commons.ca

As the candidates head out to the voters, the party totals in the House of Commons are as follows:

Liberals 155 seats
Conservatives 119 seats
New Democrats 32 seats
Bloc Quebecois 24 seats
Independents 5 seats
Green Party 2 seats
Vacant 1 seat

As we noted on Friday, all but one of the major political parties has a candidate already nominated for the late summer campaign in Skeena-Bulkley Valley, with only the Liberals still as yet unprepared to put a candidate on the campaign trail.

Elections Canada will be outlining the process of the vote ahead and what options Canadians have should they not wish to attend a polling place in person on September 20th.

With the 36 day campaign now underway, the door knocking and cold call phone calls will soon ramp up. 

As events move forward towards the September 20th voting day, we'll track the local notes for Skeena-Bulkley Valley from this archive page.

You can access more background on the national scene from our political blog D'Arcy McGee and our Ottawa Observations archive.