Election 2025: Where 4 Major Canadian Political Parties Stand on Student Issues
A country-wide election takes place April 28, 2025. Here's where the major national parties stand on issues that affect students.
Canada's next federal election happens on April 28, 2025. Canadian citizens who are 18 years of age or older on election day can register to vote! (Visit Elections.ca to find out if you're already registered.) Voting is super important, but turnout among young people is often pretty poor.
Still, it's your right — maybe even duty! — to vote. This year, parties are focused on our neighbours to the south, with less focus on student affairs. If you want to explore your own thinking, you can try CBC's Vote Compass, a short online quiz that "matches" you with a political party. Try it, it can be fun! Otherwise, to make things easier on you, here's where Canada's major political parties stand on issues that affect students:
Liberal Party of Canada
Leader: Mark Carney
Website: https://liberal.ca/
Meet the Candidates: https://liberal.ca/your-liberal-candidates/
Total seat count in previous Parliament: 153
Colour: Red
The Liberals, now led by Mark Carney after Justin Trudeau's 2025 resignation, plan to:
The Liberals are also focused on affordable housing, tariff threats, and diversifying trade. Find the Liberal platform on their website here.
Conservative Party of Canada
Leader: Pierre Poilievre
Website: https://www.conservative.ca/
Meet the Candidates: https://www.conservative.ca/candidates/
Total seat count in previous Parliament: 120
Colour: Blue
The Conversatives, led by Pierre Poilievre since 2022, plan to:
The Conservatives are also interested in tax cuts, infrastructure, and housing construction. Find the Conservative platform on their website here.
New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP)
Leader: Jagmeet Singh
Website: https://www.ndp.ca/
Meet the Candidates: https://www.ndp.ca/team
Total seat count in previous Parliament: 25
Colour: Orange
The New Democratic Party, led by Jagmeet Singh since 2017, plans to:
(* indicates the promise is from the 2021 election campaign.)
The NDP also focuses on workers' rights, equity and inclusion, and health care. Find the NDP platform on their website here.
Green Party of Canada
Leaders: Jonathon Pedneault and Elizabeth May
Website: https://www.greenparty.ca/
Meet the Candidates: https://www.greenparty.ca/en/candidates
Total seat count in previous Parliament: 2
Colour: Green, of course
The Green Party of Canada, with its unique co-leader structure led by Jonathon Pedneault and Elizabeth May, plans to:
(* indicates the promise is from the 2021 election campaign.)
The Green party is also interested in the environment, democratic institutions, and intergenerational fairness. Find the Green Party platform on their website here.
Now, this is just a sample of Canada's biggest national parties, but elections are local! At the ballot box, you'll vote for a local representative, who may or may not be part of one of the parties in this article. For example, Quebec is home to the Bloc Quebecois, a federal party that only runs for seats in la belle province. In 2018, the People's Party of Canada was launched by a former Conservative MP. Indeed, Canada's home to many smaller, regional parties — like the Animal Protection Party of Canada, formed in 2005, or the Rhinoceros Party, formed in 1963!
Finding your local rep
When deciding how you'll cast your vote, do a bit of digging into the parties, and if you can, find out who your local representative is. Your local rep is your connection to the broader political party. Most candidates will have a profile on their party's webpage.
Not sure which candidates are running in your area? Elections Canada's Voter Information Service makes it easy. You just need your postal code, and you can even use the blue "Who are the candidates in my electoral district?" button to get instant results.
Here are some quick links to help:
Voting as a student in a federal election
Elections Canada has a whole infographic about student voting. Essentially, you need to have an ID with your place of residence on it. The Elections Canada website has info on ID, but in short, if you have a student card, and a piece of mail from your school with your address on it, you can vote! Elections Canada accepts all sorts of ID types.
So yes, if you live in another town or province, you can still vote! Just make sure you update your address at Elections.ca.
When can I vote in the 2025 election?
Election Day is April 28.
Students on participating campuses can vote early, from April 13 through April 16.
Advance polling is open from April 18 through April 21. You can choose to vote by mail, if you apply by April 22.
Your last chance to vote is on Election Day, April 28. See you at the polls!
Check to ensure you're registered to vote