Canada election: Voters head to the polls as pandemic campaign comes to end

That day has come.

Canadians from coast to coast to choose their next federal government 44 . heading towards the election at the climax of^th General election.

Federal leaders have traveled across the country for just over a month in an effort to persuade voters to choose their party to represent them in Ottawa.

After receiving the blessing of Governor General Mary May Simon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dissolved parliament on August 15, sending Canadians to the ballot two years before the mandatory election on October 16, 2023.

Opposition leaders criticized Trudeau’s decision, accusing him of trying to win a majority for his party and questioning why the election was being called during the fourth wave of COVID-19.

In response, Trudeau defended his decision, saying an election was necessary for Canadians to choose how they “want to end” the pandemic with their elected government.

Throughout the campaign, party leaders have made promises on Canada’s pandemic response, the economy, affordability, child care, climate change, spending, indigenous reconciliation, taxes and housing.

About 6.8 million Canadians have already voted, most of them doing so through advanced voting from September 10 to 13, and the remainder through special voting, either by mail or by voting in person at Election Canada offices. are. About 30 million eligible voters will be able to cast their vote on Monday.

Polling hours are staggered on Election Day so that most results across the country come out at roughly the same time, Elections Canada says.

Voting in the Newfoundland and Atlantic time zones 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time, 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Central Time, Saskatchewan and Mountains runs through time. 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific Time

Elections Canada is encouraging voters to wear masks, but only requiring them in provinces where they have been made mandatory. Proof-of-vaccination rules do not apply to polling stations in any province where they currently exist.

Most riding winners will be decided by the end of Monday, but Elections Canada has also warned that it could take up to four days for special ballots to be counted, meaning some close races will not have official winners for several days. .

— With files from the Canadian Press