2015 Canadian federal election

The 2015 Canadian federal election, held on October 19, 2015, was a watershed moment that fundamentally reshaped the Canadian political landscape. It saw the Liberal Party, led by Justin Trudeau, achieve a stunning victory, securing 184 seats and forming a majority government. This outcome marked the end of nearly a decade of Conservative rule under Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The election campaign itself was notably long, lasting 11 weeks, a duration not seen since the 1970s, intensifying the national debate and public engagement. The election was also significant as it was the first time since 1979 that a prime minister sought to remain in office into a fourth consecutive Parliament, and the first time since 1980 that a leader attempted to win a fourth term overall, highlighting the desire for change.

The Liberal Party's victory was remarkable due to their position prior to the election. Having held only 36 seats, the fewest ever for a party that would go on to win, their gain of 148 seats was the largest numerical increase in Canadian electoral history. This dramatic shift propelled them from the third-largest party to a majority government.

This was only the second time in Canadian history that a party moved from third place to first place, the previous instance being in 1925. The Liberals also achieved significant regional successes, winning the most seats in Quebec for the first time since 1980 and in British Columbia for the first time since 1968. This demonstrated a broad national appeal and a successful rejuvenation of the party's image and platform.

Beyond the Liberal triumph, the 2015 election triggered significant leadership changes within other parties. Stephen Harper conceded defeat and resigned as leader of the Conservative Party, ending his tenure as Prime Minister. Similarly, Gilles Duceppe stepped down as leader of the Bloc Québécois.

While Tom Mulcair initially intended to remain leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), his leadership was later challenged and he eventually stepped down in 2017. The election thus represented not just a change in government but also a period of introspection and transition for multiple federal political organizations.

A particularly noteworthy aspect of the 2015 election was the substantial increase in voter turnout across all age demographics. The most significant rise was observed among eligible voters aged 18 to 24, whose participation increased by 18.3 percentage points, reaching 57.1%. This was the largest recorded increase for this age group since Elections Canada began tracking demographic turnout.

This heightened engagement from younger Canadians suggests a growing awareness and interest in the political process, potentially influenced by the campaign's themes and the candidates' outreach efforts. The overall voter turnout for the election was the highest since 1993, indicating a robust democratic exercise.

The election was conducted under the Canada Elections Act, with writs of election issued by Governor General David Johnston on August 4, 2015, initiating the campaign. The electoral system in Canada uses a first-past-the-post method, where the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins the seat. In 2015, the Liberal Party secured 184 seats, the Conservatives 99, the NDP 44, the Bloc Québécois 10, and the Green Party 1.

Parties like Strength in Democracy lost all their seats. Notably, every party except the Liberals saw a decrease in their popular vote share, a testament to the Liberal Party's ability to consolidate support and attract new voters.