A new poll has found that almost half of Canadians want a federal election called before the scheduled date of October 2025.
The survey numbers come from a Nanos Research survey, commissioned by CTV News, indicating that a significant portion of the population is eager to head to the ballot.
According to the poll, nearly one in two Canadians (46%) want to see a federal election held before the scheduled date, broken down further more people want to see it happen as soon as possible (29%) than those who want an election sometime in 2024 (17%). One in three (33%) of respondents would prefer 2025, while a minority (17%) have no preference.
The desire for an early election was particularly pronounced among certain demographics.
Men are more likely to want an election as soon as possible (36%) than women (23%).
Additionally, the survey showcased a generational split in election preferences.
Canadians aged 55 and older are more likely to prefer having the next election in 2025 (41%) than younger Canadians, like those aged 18-34 (26%), and among those aged 35-54 (28%).
Regionally, the desire for an early election also varies, with the highest number of Canadians in the Prairies preferring to return to the polls as soon as possible (41.3%), the highest of any demographic. Quebec had the lowest percentage of people (20.3%) wanting to have the next federal election as soon as possible.
Conversely, the demographic with the highest percentage of people who want to have the next federal election (39.9%) in 2025 was found in the Atlantic provinces. The prairies had the lowest percentage (21.4%) of people wishing to wait until 2025.
The survey’s findings have potential implications for the Liberal-NDP supply-and-confidence agreement, which is set to keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in power until June 2025. However, the Canada Elections Act does not prevent an election from being called earlier as long as it is no later than five years after the previous election.
As previously reported by True North, in late November 2023, Melissa Outwater launched an e-petition sponsored by Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri. Petition e-4701 called on the House of Commons to call for a vote of no confidence and a federal election 45 days following the vote. The petition closed with 386,698 signatures, making it the most-signed e-petition since the House of Commons began accepting electronic petitions in 2015.
While the government is not obligated to act on any petition, it must provide an official response to MPs within 45 days if it garners more than 500 signatures.
True North recently reported that 69% of Canadians think Trudeau should resign before the next federal election, based on a survey by Ipsos.
Despite the growing calls for an early election, Prime Minister Trudeau has remained steadfast in his leadership role.
“I couldn’t be the person I am and walk away from this fight right now,” said Trudeau in his year-end interview with CityNews.
The Nanos survey was conducted between November 30 and December 2, 2023, involving 1,069 Canadians aged 18 and older. The study employed a random digit dialling dual frame (land and cell lines) hybrid telephone and online survey methodology. The margin of error for this survey is ±3.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
