Canada Spring General Election May 2, 2011

Canadians head to the federal polls for the 41st General Election ("Vote. Shape your world") on Monday May 2, 2011. Canadian citizens 18 and over can vote in 308 federal electoral districts on election day or at advance polls on April 22nd, 23rd or the 25th. You can see the Toronto electoral districts here.

The upcoming election was announced by Prime Minister Steven Harper on Saturday March 26, 2011 after meeting with the Governor General David Johnston. The Parliament of Canada website said "On the advice of the Prime Minister, the Governor General, by proclamation on Saturday, March 26, 2011, dissolved the Fortieth Parliament and gave instructions to issue writs of election. Monday, May 2^nd, 2011 has been set as the polling day."


Opposition parties had passed a non-confidence motion on Friday March 25 against the ruling Conservative minority government and the main reason given was they felt the government was in contempt of Parliament.