The polls for Canada’s 2025 federal election have officially closed in the easternmost province of Newfoundland and Labrador, marking the beginning of results trickling in, Al Jazeera reported.
Early results from the province are expected soon, offering the first insights into how the nationwide contest between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party is shaping up. Shortly after, voting also concluded across the Atlantic provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island at 8:30 pm Atlantic Time (23:30 GMT).
However, the bigger picture of the election is yet to unfold, as voters in the populous provinces of Ontario and Quebec, along with Alberta, still had about two more hours before polls closed, according to Al Jazeera.
Pre-election polling indicated a tight race, with the Liberals polling at nearly 43% and the Conservatives close behind at just over 39%, according to CBC’s tracker. The New Democratic Party (NDP) was in third place with about 9% support, followed by the Bloc Quebecois at 6%.
This election marks a critical leadership transition for the Liberals, following the resignation of Justin Trudeau. In March, Mark Carney—a former central banker and advisor to Trudeau—was chosen as the new party leader, pitching himself as a fresh yet experienced face.
Opposing him is Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, a longtime parliamentarian who has campaigned strongly on issues such as the rising cost of living, immigration policies, and cultural debates, tapping into voter dissatisfaction with the outgoing Liberal administration.
Elections Canada outlined the closing times for each region:
- Newfoundland and Labrador: 8:30 pm (23:00 GMT)
- Atlantic Time: 8:30 pm (23:30 GMT)
- Eastern Time: 9:30 pm (01:30 GMT)
- Central Time*: 8:30 pm (01:30 GMT)
- Mountain Time*: 7:30 pm (01:30 GMT)
- Pacific Time: 7:00 pm (02:00 GMT)
(*Some provinces like Saskatchewan follow two different time zones.)
Now, Canadians face a pivotal choice: whether to grant interim Prime Minister Mark Carney a full four-year mandate, or to hand over leadership to the Conservative Party after more than nine years of Liberal governance.
