At stake in this election:

• 308 seats in the House of Commons (Chambre des Communes)

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II *
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Paul MARTIN
• Assembly: Canada has a bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consisting of the Senate (Sénat) with 105 seats and the House of Commons (Chambre des Communes) with 308 seats.

* The Queen is represented by Governor-General Adrienne CLARKSON

Description of electoral system:

• The Queen is hereditary .
• The Prime Minister is designated by the governor-general to serve a 5-year term. The Governor-General usually appoints the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition.
• In the Senate (Sénat) 105 members are appointed by the governor-general*. In the House of Commons (Chambre des Communes) 308 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms.**

* Members are appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. No terms are set, and Senators may serve in office until the age of 75.

** According to the 2003 Representation Order, there are currently 308 electoral districts, and, according to the Constitution, one seat is allocated per electoral district. The duration of the House of Commons cannot exceed five years, except under special circumstances, including real or apprehended war, invasion or insurrection.

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: Liberal Party of Canada (LIB)
  • Leader: Paul MARTIN
  • Seats won in this House of Commons election: 135
  • Seats won in last House of Commons election: 172
• Party: Conservative Party of Canada (CONS)**
  • Leader: Stephen HARPER
  • Seats won in this House of Commons election: 99
  • Seats won in last House of Commons election: 78
• Party: Bloc Quebecois (BQ)
  • Leader: Gilles DUCEPPE
  • Seats won in this House of Commons election: 54
  • Seats won in last House of Commons election: 38
• Party: New Democratic Party (NDP)
  • Leader: Jack LAYTON
  • Seats won in this House of Commons election: 19
  • Seats won in last House of Commons election: 13
• Party: Green Party (Greens)
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in this House of Commons election: N/A
  • Seats won in last House of Commons election: N/A
• Party: Independents
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in this House of Commons election: N/A
  • Seats won in last House of Commons election: N/A
• Party: Others
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in this House of Commons election: 1
  • Seats won in last House of Commons election: N/A

** The Conservative Party was formed when the Progressive Conservative (PCP) which had 12 seats and the 66 seat Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance (CA) merged together after the 2000 elections.

Last Parliamentary election:

• Canada held its last parliamentary elections on November 27, 2000. In the last election, 301 seats were in contention in the House of Commons.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 32,207,113 (July 2003 est.)
• Registered Voters: 22,295,670 ( 2004 )

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 16,140,889 (2004)

·         Is Canada a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Canada ratified CEDAW: Yes (10 December 1981)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 65 (House of Commons) (following 2004 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 9 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Canada a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Canada ratified CRPD: Yes (20 December 2012)

·         Population with a disability: 4,831,066 (est.)