Fixed election dates in Canada
Updated: 12/11/2025, 6:09:10 PM Wikipedia source
In Canada, the federal government and most provinces and territories have enacted legislation setting election dates, usually every four years, one year sooner than the constitutionally set five year maximum life of a parliament. However, the governor general, lieutenant governors, and commissioners still have the legal power to call a general election on the advice of the relevant first minister at any point before the fixed date. By-elections, used to fill vacancies in a legislature, are also not affected by fixed election dates.
Tables
· Next elections
Federal
Federal
Jurisdiction
Federal
Election date
October 15, 2029
Alberta
Alberta
Jurisdiction
Alberta
Election date
October 18, 2027
British Columbia
British Columbia
Jurisdiction
British Columbia
Election date
October 21, 2028
Manitoba
Manitoba
Jurisdiction
Manitoba
Election date
October 5, 2027
New Brunswick
New Brunswick
Jurisdiction
New Brunswick
Election date
October 16, 2028
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Jurisdiction
Newfoundland and Labrador
Election date
October 9, 2029
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Jurisdiction
Nova Scotia
Election date
2029 (no fixed date)
Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
Jurisdiction
Northwest Territories
Election date
October 5, 2027
Nunavut
Nunavut
Jurisdiction
Nunavut
Election date
October 29, 2029
Ontario
Ontario
Jurisdiction
Ontario
Election date
June 7, 2029
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Jurisdiction
Prince Edward Island
Election date
October 4, 2027
Quebec
Quebec
Jurisdiction
Quebec
Election date
October 5, 2026
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Jurisdiction
Saskatchewan
Election date
October 30, 2028
Yukon
Yukon
Jurisdiction
Yukon
Election date
November 5, 2029
| Jurisdiction | Election date |
| Federal | October 15, 2029 |
| Alberta | October 18, 2027 |
| British Columbia | October 21, 2028 |
| Manitoba | October 5, 2027 |
| New Brunswick | October 16, 2028 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | October 9, 2029 |
| Nova Scotia | 2029 (no fixed date) |
| Northwest Territories | October 5, 2027 |
| Nunavut | October 29, 2029 |
| Ontario | June 7, 2029 |
| Prince Edward Island | October 4, 2027 |
| Quebec | October 5, 2026 |
| Saskatchewan | October 30, 2028 |
| Yukon | November 5, 2029 |
References
- Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, s. 4.https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-12.html#h-43
- Constitution Act, 1867, s. 50.https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-2.html#docCont
- Act to Amend the Canada Elections Act, 2007, c. 10https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/AnnualStatutes/2007_10/page-1.html
- "Fixed election dates in Canada"https://web.archive.org/web/20120224201248/http://www.electionalmanac.com/articles/fixedelectiondates.php
- Canada Elections Act, SC 2000, c. 9, s. 56.1(1) , as amended.https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/E-2.01/page-10.html#h-204214
- "Bill setting federal elections every 4 years about to become law"https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/bill-setting-federal-elections-every-4-years-about-to-become-law-1.669836
- "Harper promises law to set election date every four years"http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/harper-promises-law-to-set-election-date-every-four-years-1.615777
- Conacher v. Canada (Prime Minister)http://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/fc-cf/decisions/en/item/57094/index.do?r=AAAAAQAPRGVtb2NyYWN5IFdhdGNoAAAAAAE
- Toronto Starhttps://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/985536--brace-yourself-back-to-back-elections-likely-in-2015
- "Federal election could overlap with at least two provincial votes"http://www.canada.com/news/Federal+election+could+overlap+with+least+provincial+votes/5273954/story.html
- The Globe and Mailhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-to-add-more-seats-in-commons-for-ontario-bc-alberta/article2044083/
- Election Amendment Act, 2011, SA 2011, c. 19https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/astat/sa-2011-c-19/147684/sa-2011-c-19.html
- Global Newshttps://globalnews.ca/news/8351150/alberta-proposes-set-election-day/
- The Toronto Starhttps://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/12/08/alberta-government-passes-rules-on-election-dates-financing-as-fall-sitting-wraps-up.html
- Global Newshttps://globalnews.ca/news/10484711/alberta-bill-21-election-date-emergencies/
- Emergency Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, S.A. 2024, c. 9, s. 2(2)https://canlii.ca/t/c2r5#sec2
- Constitution (Fixed Election Dates) Amendment Act, 2001, SBC 2001, c. 36.https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/hstats/hstats/1609799889
- "Facts on...Fixed Election Dates"https://web.archive.org/web/20080503170747/http://www.gnb.ca/0100/Doc/fact2fixed-e.pdf
- Constitution Amendment Act, 2017, SBC 2017, c. 36, s. 3.https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/hstats/hstats/307419174
- Elections Manitobahttp://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/en/
- Elections Act, sec. 49.1(3).
- "An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Act (2007)"https://web.archive.org/web/20110718121407/http://www1.gnb.ca/legis/bill/editform-e.asp?ID=555&legi=56&num=1
- "Legislative Assembly Act"http://laws.gnb.ca/en/showfulldoc/cs/2014-c.116/#anchorga:s_2
- "Bill 40 An Act To Amend The House Of Assembly Act And The Elections Act, 1991"http://www.assembly.nl.ca/business/bills/Bill0440.htm
- Global Newshttps://globalnews.ca/news/8122158/ns-tim-houston-names-transition-team/
- The Toronto Starhttps://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/10/13/nova-scotia-legislation-would-make-province-the-last-to-adopt-a-fixed-election-date.html
- CBC Nova Scotiahttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-election-houston-chender-churchill-1.7363229
- Global Newshttps://globalnews.ca/news/11023941/nova-scotia-fixed-election-date-politician-pay/
- An Act Respecting Government Organization and Administrationhttps://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/PDFs/annual%20statutes/2025%20Spring/c008.pdf
- "Election Statute Law Amendment Act, 2005"http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/source/statutes/english/2005/elaws_src_s05035_e.htm
- "Ontario 'fixed' election date moved off Jewish holiday"https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ontario-fixed-election-date-moved-off-jewish-holiday-1.631001
- Toronto Starhttps://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/10/19/ontario-moves-election-date-to-june-7-2018.html
- Election Statute Law Amendment Act, 2016, S.O. 2016, c. 33, s. 7https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/s16033
- "Ontario to scrap fixed election dates, raise donation limit to $5,000 under new bill"https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/politics/queens-park/article/ontario-to-scrap-fixed-election-dates-raise-donation-limit-to-5000-under-new-bill/
- "Opposition supports fixed election dates"https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/opposition-supports-fixed-election-dates-1.647100
- "Bill n°3: An Act to amend the Election Act for the purpose of establishing fixed-date elections"http://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/travaux-parlementaires/projets-loi/projet-loi-3-40-1.html
- The Huffington Posthttps://web.archive.org/web/20140308165728/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/03/05/quebec-election-date-2014-pauline-marois_n_4901751.html
- "Provincial vote to be held Oct. 2020 | Regina Leader Post"https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/province-adjusting-election-dates
- "Legislation Introduced To Set Fixed Election Dates"http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=f3e99177-fd1b-4544-9d63-ac9833f16f1b
- "The Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, 2007"http://www.qp.gov.sk.ca/documents/English/Statutes/Statutes/L11-3.pdf
- Elections and Plebiscite Act, SNWT 2006, c. 15, s. 39.http://www.canlii.org/en/nt/laws/stat/snwt-2006-c-15/latest/snwt-2006-c-15.html
- "Fixed election date in the N.W.T.: What does it mean, and why?"http://www.cbc.ca/nwtvotes2007/features/features-fixed-date.html
- "Nunavut Gazett"https://web.archive.org/web/20131029210403/http://www.justice.gov.nu.ca/apps/authoring/dspPage.aspx?page=NUNAVUT%20GAZETTE%20PAGE&year=2012
- "An Act to Provide for a Fixed Election Date"http://www.nunavutlegislation.ca/iu/download/file/fid/7478
- "Nunavut MLAs opt for fixed election dates, code of conduct"https://web.archive.org/web/20180212232318/http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674nunavut_mlas_opt_for_fixed_election_dates_code_of_conduct/
- Elections Act, R.S.Y. 2002, c. 63, s. 50.01, as amended by S.Y. 2020, c. 11https://legislation.yukon.ca/acts/elections_c.pdf
- "Yukon Liberals promise 'balanced approach,' transparency in government"https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-liberal-election-platform-released-1.3821401
- "Liberals unveil complete election platform"http://www.yukon-news.com/news/liberals-unveil-complete-election-platform/
- "Platform | Electoral Process"http://www.ylp.ca/electoral_process_1
- CBC Newshttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-mlas-wrap-marathon-fall-sitting-1.5853220