Federal election set for April 28

Prime Minister Mark Carney asked Governor General Mary Simon to dissolve parliament Sunday, and call a federal election for Monday, April 28.

Carney was sworn in as prime minister March 14 and appointed a cabinet. MPs were to return to the house Monday, March 24 after parliament being prorogued on Jan. 6, following the resignation of prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams has stated his intention to run for a second term under the Conservative party banner.

Kate Crothers, of Picton, will represent the NDP on the Bay of Quinte ballot.

The Liberals and Green riding associations have yet to announce candidates. The nomination process for candidates closes Monday, April 7. Elections Canada offices will open soon in each of the 343 federal electoral districts (ridings).

The Bay of Quinte riding was held by Liberal Neil Ellis, current mayor of Belleville, from 2015-2021 and taken in the Sept. 2021 election by Williams.

Voter turnout was 64.95 per cent as 62,105 of 95,615 voters cast their ballot.

Results of the 2021 federal election:
Conservative Ryan Williams 25,479 votes (41.3 per cent)
Liberal Neil Ellis 22,542 votes (36.5 per cent)
New Democratic Stephanie Bell 9,284 votes (15 per cent)
People’s Janine LeClerc 3,045 votes (4.9 per cent)
Green Erica Charlton 1,350 votes (2.2 per cent)

The political map in Canada was re-drawn ahead of this election, with the House of Commons increasing to 343 MPs from 338. A party now needs 172 seats for a majority, instead of 170. Of the five new seats, one is in Ontario, one in BC and three in Alberta

Boundary changes happen every 10 years to reflect changes in population and contain approximately the same number of people.

In September 2021, Trudeau had won a third term, his second minority government, with 160 seats; up five from the 2019 federal election.