By Canadian Press

Federal election officially set for September 20

Aug 15, 2021 | 1:07 PM

OTTAWA – Gov. Gen. Mary Simon has agreed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s request to dissolve Parliament, triggering an election campaign.

Canadians are set to go to the polls on Sept. 20.

Trudeau is pulling the trigger on an election campaign just as a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic gathers steam across the country.

Opposition leaders have argued that plunging into an election during the health crisis is both unnecessary and reckless.

But the Trudeau Liberals are hoping the risk is worth it as they try to turn their minority government into a majority mandate less than two years after Canadians last went to the polls.

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At dissolution, the Liberals had 155 seats, the Conservatives 119, the Bloc Quebecois 32, the NDP 24 and the Greens two. There were also five Independents and one vacancy.

More info from Elections Canada:

• Electors have many safe options to vote, including at their assigned polling station on election day (Monday, September 20) or during advance polling days (Friday, September 10 to Monday, September 13). They can also apply online to vote by mail (deadlines apply). Elections Canada encourages electors to plan early to choose the voting option that best suits them. Find out more here.
• Elections Canada offices will open soon in each of the 338 federal electoral districts. For complete information on the health and safety measures in place at Elections Canada offices, visit our website.
• Canadian citizens who are at least 18 years old on election day are eligible to vote.
• To vote, they must:
  • Be registered. Most Canadians who are eligible to vote are already registered in the National Register of Electors. To check if they are registered or register to vote, electors should use the Online Voter Registration Service at elections.ca, call us at 1–800–463–6868 or contact their local Elections Canada office. They can also register in person at their polling station when they go to vote.
  • Show proof of their identity and address. There are many different pieces of ID that can be used to prove identity and address. The full list is available online.
• Given the ongoing pandemic, Elections Canada, in consultation with public health authorities, has implemented a range of measures at polling places and Elections Canada offices to protect electors, election workers and political participants.
• For more information, visit elections.ca or call us at 1-800-463-6868.