First Time Voting

Calling all first-time voters! Welcome, and here is your quick guide of what-you-need-to-know for Canadian polling information and guidelines.

Did you know, that for the first time in Canadian history, “millennial voters are set to make up the biggest voting bloc in a federal election?” With this in mind, we recognize that a lot of this demographic is voting for the first time, and we would like to help eliminate any misconceptions, anxiety and pressure around the voting process.

What does the Canadian Parliament even look like?

In the federal election, we are voting for seats in the House of Commons. There are 338 Members of Parliament (MPs) that are elected every cycle, that represent the different ridings across the country. The party that has the most elected MPs will be appointed as the Prime Minister of Canada. The second-largest political party elected in the House of Commons becomes the Official Opposition. In Canada, values of democracy and responsibility are of utmost importance, meaning that the Prime Minister is accountable to not only their party, but the entire nation. As of recent, the most discussed topics in the House of Commons include government accountability, trade agreements, oil and gas, government assistance and public consultation.

Current Government

The past four years have been led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada. Since 2015, the Trudeau government has placed bets on investing in the middle class, growing the economy and protecting the environment. Moving forward, they aim to continue fighting the climate crisis and implementing stronger gun control practices.

Voting in Canada: Quick Facts

Q: What information do I need to have before I vote?

• Your riding

• Your Elections Canada office

• Your candidates

• Where and when to vote

Issues: Click here to learn more about how each party stands on these contentious issues.

Primary Canadian Parties

• The Conservative Party of Canada

• The Green Party of Canada

• The Liberal Party of Canada

• The New Democratic Party of Canada

• Le Bloc Québécois

• Others

Looking for more information? Visit Elections Canada

From all of us at the First Time Blog, we hope this information was helpful! We recognize that voting for the first time can be stressful and full of pressure, but remember, the most important thing is to just do it! Regardless of where your values and priorities lie, please show up and speak up today.