Fire Disrupts Voting in Windsor, Leaders Cast Ballots: What’s Happening Today as Canada Votes

Canadians are currently voting in the 45th general election after a month-long campaign and will soon find out which party will form government.

Here’s a look at the key events unfolding throughout the day as the clock ticks down to the release of the first results.

Carney Votes in Nepean

Prime Minister and Liberal Leader Mark Carney and his wife, Diana Fox Carney, were filmed entering a polling station in Ottawa at around 3:00 p.m. Carney asked the poll worker how voter turnout was in the riding, and remarked that he is “pretty tired” because he was at an event in B.C. the previous night.

Carney gave a thumbs-up after casting his vote, and then departed with his wife. According to polling aggregator 338Canada, Carney’s seat of Nepean is “LPC-safe” and he has a 99 percent chance of winning.

Poilievre Votes in Carleton

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his wife Anaida Poilievre cast their votes at a polling station in Greely, Ont., at around 10:30a.m. They were filmed greeting and shaking hands with poll workers as they made their way through the room to vote.

“Look at the size of the ballot,” Poilievre said when a poll worker showed him the ballot, which has 91 contenders and is a metre long. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”

An electoral reform group called the Longest Ballot Committee is targeting Poilievre’s riding of Carleton by flooding it with candidates. The group is protesting against Canada’s first-past-the-post voting system—where a party that wins a riding takes all—saying this results in voters choosing other parties not being represented.

After being shown how to fold the long ballot, Poilievre and his wife cast their votes. As Polievre placed his ballot into the box, he said “Alright, everyone, get out and vote for change.”

Blanchet Casts His Vote in Quebec

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet voted in his riding of Beloeil-Chambly before taking questions from reporters. When asked if he believes this is the most consequential election in Canadian history, which other party leaders have said, Blanchet said he would “not go there.”

“It is an important election, like any election is important,” Blanchet said. “It should never be taken lightly, and one should never declare himself winner before winning.”

According to 338Canada, the riding of Beloeil-Chambly is “BQ-likely” and Blanchet has a 98 percent chance of winning re-election.

Singh Meets With Supporters

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who already voted in advance polls, held a campaign event in Port Moody, B.C., alongside MP Bonita Zarrillo, which is running for re-election in a riding that has the Liberals and Conservatives both far ahead of the NDP in the polls.

Singh joined dozens of supporters at a street corner, who held up NDP signs to passing cars. Singh then addressed the supporters and told them this was the “last push,” and said the party would be able to fight for health care, pensions for seniors, and dental care in Parliament.

“We’re going to remind people, it’s all because of you. Because you vote NDP. We’re able to fight for you because you vote NDP. We’re able to lift up people, fight for ordinary folks, not for the billionaires,” Singh said.

Singh also responded to a post by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier in the day about Canada becoming the 51st state.

“He doesn’t choose our future. We do,” Singh said.

A Fire Disrupts Voting in Windsor

Many voters in Windsor, Ont., were told to vote at a new location after a fire closed down a recreation centre that was serving as a polling station. According to the Windsor fire department, a fire began on the roof of the WFCU Centre at around 10 a.m., prompting an evacuation of everyone inside building.

The fire department later said on social media that the fire investigator had arrived at the building, and power to the building was still out. By 2:45 p.m., the department reported that the fire crews had “cleared the scene,” and the damage to the roof from the fire is estimated to be over $1 million due to several solar panels and roofing material being engulfed.

Trump Wades Into Canadian Election

U.S. President Donald Trump, whose tariffs and comments on Canada’s sovereignty has loomed large during the election campaign, commented on Canada’s election on the morning of April 28.

Trump repeated his 51st state rhetoric and wished “Good luck to the Great people of Canada.” He added Canadians should “elect the man” who can give them lower taxes, lower tariffs, and greater military power, referencing himself.

Poilievre reacted on social media the same day, saying Trump needed to “stay out of our election” and that the only people who would “decide the future of Canada are Canadians at the ballot box.”

“Canada will always be proud, sovereign and independent and we will NEVER be the 51st state,” Poileivre added.

With Trump placing tariffs on Canada and frequently musing on how Canada should become the 51st state, all the major party leaders in this election have made pitches on who is best placed to handle the U.S. president.