Canada Federal Election 2025: A beginner's guide

The House of Commons currently has 343 seats (each one representing a riding, or electoral district). Canadians don’t vote directly for the Prime Minister—they vote for their local MP. The party that wins the most seats typically forms the government. If they win 172 or more, that’s a majority. Anything less, and it’s a minority government, requiring cooperation from other parties to pass legislation and survive key votes.