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As Canada heads to the polls on Monday following the resignation of Justin Trudeau, who led the country for nearly a decade, now the main contest is between Liberal leader Mark Carney and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

Recent polls released by Forum Research on April 27 show that the Liberals are leading with 43 percent, while the Conservatives are trailing closely at 39 percent.

After Trudeau resigned, Mark Carney assumed leadership of the Liberal Party and became Prime Minister of Canada, securing over 85 percent support within his party.

He took office amid rising tensions with neighboring United States and called a snap election just nine days after taking office.

Pierre Poilievre, Conservative party leader is the main rival of Carney. Let's take a closer look at the main frontrunners for the position of Prime Minister of Canada.

Mark Carney - Reignites the campaigning for Liberals

After Trudeau resigned Carney brought new light to the campaigning for the Liberals. Carney, former governor of Bank of Canada, who had held the position during the hard times of 2008 economic crisis and Brexit.

He was born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and raised in Alberta, he studied at Harvard and Oxford before building an international career.

However, Carney’s political inexperience has drawn scrutiny, particularly over his decision to call a snap election just days after assuming leadership without holding a seat in the House of Commons.

Conservative critics have also accused him of hypocrisy over his time at investment firm Brookfield and his recent adoption of traditionally Conservative policies, such as scrapping the carbon tax.

Despite the criticism, Carney has positioned himself as a firm opponent of Donald Trump's trade policies, vowing that Canada would 'never become the 51st US state' and pledging retaliation against tariffs.

Pierre Poilievre 

At 45, Pierre Poilievre has established himself as a seasoned Conservative MP known for his push for smaller government and reduced regulation. A sharp political fighter, Poilievre's combative style has earned him both admiration and criticism.

Supporters see him as a voice for 'forgotten' Canadians, while detractors often compare his rhetoric to that of Donald Trump — a link Poilievre has rejected, insisting, "I have a completely different story." Trump, for his part, has dismissed Poilievre as "not MAGA enough."

While Poilievre's 'common sense' platform — focused on lowering taxes, cutting red tape to boost housing, and cracking down on crime — has resonated with many, it has also sparked concern among centrist voters.

His willingness to override parts of Canada's Charter of Rights to enforce tougher sentencing has raised eyebrows, particularly in urban areas.

Recent polls show the Conservatives losing ground to the Liberals, who are now projected by major pollsters to potentially form a majority government under Mark Carney.

Poilievre’s strong support in western Canada and his message of change continue to keep him firmly in the fight, reported The New York Times.

While the main battle is between Carney and Poilievre, a few other contenders are also in the race, though they are unlikely to significantly impact the election.

Jagmeet Singh

He is the first Sikh leader of the left leaning New Democratic Party (NDP). Once a key player in propping up the Liberal minority government through a supply and confidence agreement, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh cut ties with the Liberals last year over a labor dispute.

Despite championing progressive initiatives like universal pharmacare and dental care, Singh has seen his party's national support fall to around 8.5 percent. Singh has been critical of the Liberals on the campaign trail, accusing them of letting Canadians down and arguing they do not deserve another term in office.

Yves-François Blanchet

While the main contest is between the Liberals and Conservatives, smaller parties could still shape the outcome of Canada’s election.

Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Quebec-focused Bloc Québécois, remains a strong voice against Donald Trump’s policies, famously dismissing Trump’s annexation rhetoric as "enough jibber-jabber."

Although the Bloc is not expected to form government, it could influence seat distribution in Quebec, where the party is polling behind the Liberals. Other parties in the race include the Green Party of Canada, co-led by Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault, and the People’s Party of Canada, headed by Maxime Bernier.

When the results will be declared?  

Canadians will head to the polls on Monday to choose their next leader, with results expected to be announced by the evening of April 28. Voting will be conducted using traditional paper ballots, which will be counted by hand at each polling station by Elections Canada staff.

Polling stations across the country will be open from 9 am to 9 pm local time. Given Canada's stretch across six time zones, early results are expected to come in from the Atlantic provinces once their polls close, while final outcomes will likely be clear after voting ends in the Pacific regions.

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