What Canadians surveyed think about the timing of the next federal election

Nearly one in two Canadians would prefer the next federal election take place before 2025, according to a recent survey conducted by Nanos Research. When it comes to their preference for the timing of the next national vote, 46 per cent of survey respondents indicated they either wanted the next election to happen as soon as possible, or in 2024.

Nearly one in two Canadians would prefer the next federal election take place before 2025, according to a recent survey conducted by Nanos Research.

When it comes to their preference for the timing of the next national vote, 46 per cent of survey respondents indicated they either wanted the next election to happen as soon as possible, or in 2024. 

Canadians aren't scheduled to go back to the polls until October 2025, and the Liberals and NDP continue to maintain a supply-and-confidence agreement that is poised to keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in power amid the minority Parliament, until June 2025.

Based on the Nanos survey, just 33 per cent of respondents said they'd prefer to wait the full four years before having to cast their next federal ballot, in 2025.

Another 17 per cent said they had no preference of when the next federal election will be called, a decision that rests in the hands of the Governor General, typically on the advice of the prime minister to dissolve a Parliament. 

Since 2007, the Canada Elections Act has outlined a timeline for a general election to be held on a fixed date, the third Monday of October in the fourth calendar year following the previous federal vote.

But, as Election Canada notes, the Act doesn't prevent an election from being called earlier or later, "as long as it is no later than five years after the previous election."