Canada enters busy fall election season with Quebec, B.C., Ontario votes ahead

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 15, 2026

OTTAWA, Canada — Canada is entering a busy fall election season, with voters preparing for provincial and municipal contests across several parts of the country, but there is currently no federal general election underway.

Canada’s last federal general election was held on April 28, 2025. Under the country’s fixed-date election rules, the next federal election is currently scheduled for Oct. 15, 2029, although an earlier vote may still be called if Parliament is dissolved.

At the federal level, attention is instead turning to several vacant seats in the House of Commons.

As of Sept. 15, Elections Canada lists five ridings awaiting federal by-elections: Saint-Hyacinthe–Bagot–Acton in Quebec, Scarborough North in Ontario, Rosemont–La Petite–Patrie and Laurier–Sainte-Marie in Quebec, and Yorkton–Melville in Saskatchewan.

No election dates have yet been announced for the five vacancies. Under Elections Canada’s published timelines, the deadlines for formally calling the contests vary by riding and extend from December 2026 to February 2027.

The vacancies follow three federal by-elections held on Aug. 31, when Liberal candidates won in North Vancouver–Capilano, Beaches–East York and Chicoutimi–Le Fjord.

Validated Elections Canada results show Braeden Caley winning North Vancouver–Capilano with 58.7 per cent of the vote, Tanveer Shahnawaz taking Beaches–East York with 55.8 per cent, and Daniel Gobeil winning Chicoutimi–Le Fjord with 51.6 per cent.

Quebec provincial election now underway

The most immediate major electoral contest is in Quebec, where the provincial general election campaign is already underway ahead of voting day on Oct. 5.

Élections Québec said approximately 6.4 million registered electors are eligible to participate across 127 electoral divisions.

Voters can register or update their information until Oct. 1, while advance voting is scheduled for Sept. 27 and 28.

British Columbia heads to local polls

In British Columbia, voters will head to the polls on Oct. 17 for general local elections held across the province.

The elections will determine representatives for municipal councils, regional districts, boards of education and other local governing bodies. B.C. holds its general local elections every four years.

In Port Coquitlam, voters will elect one mayor, six city councillors and two school trustees. Advance voting there is scheduled for Oct. 7 and Oct. 10 before general voting day.

Ontario municipal elections set for Oct. 26

Ontario residents will also vote in municipal council and school board elections on October 26.

Ahead of the August nomination deadline, election observers and municipal advocates noted a number of races with only one or no registered candidates, particularly in smaller and rural communities. 

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario warned that when fewer people run for office, voters have fewer choices and councils may reflect fewer perspectives

Eligible voters who need to add, remove or update information on the voters’ list after Sept. 1 are advised by the provincial government to contact their municipal clerk. Voting methods can vary by municipality, including possible mail or internet voting options.

For Filipino Canadians, the different election dates underline an important distinction: Canada holds elections separately at the federal, provincial or territorial, and local levels, meaning an election taking place in one province or municipality does not mean the entire country is voting.

Residents should check their provincial or municipal election authority to confirm whether an election is being held in their area, their eligibility to vote and the available voting dates and methods.