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 Stephen HARPER
• 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 Michaelle JEAN.

Description of electoral system:

• The Queen is hereditary N/A.
• 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: Conservative Party of Canada*
  • Leader: Stephen HARPER
  • Seats won in this House of Commons election: 143
  • Seats won in last House of Commons election: 124
• Party: Liberal Party**
  • Leader: Stephane DION
  • Seats won in this House of Commons election: 77
  • Seats won in last House of Commons election: 103
• Party: Bloc Quebecois***
  • Leader: Gilles DUCEPPE
  • Seats won in this House of Commons election: 49
  • Seats won in last House of Commons election: 51
• Party: Green Party of Canada****
  • Leader: Elizabeth MAY
  • Seats won in this House of Commons election: 0
  • Seats won in last House of Commons election: 0
• Party: New Democratic Party (NDP)*****
  • Leader: Jack LAYTON
  • Seats won in this House of Commons election: 37
  • Seats won in last House of Commons election: 29
• Independent(s): Independents and others******
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in this House of Commons election: 2
  • Seats won in last House of Commons election: 2

* As of the 7 Sep 08 dissolution of Parliament, Conservatives held 127 seats.
** As of the 7 Sep 08 dissolution of Parliament, Liberals held 96 seats.
*** As of the 7 Sep 08 dissolution of Parliament, Bloc Quebecois held 48 seats.
**** On 30 Aug 08, an Independent MP joined the Green Party as its first member of Parliament.
***** As of the 7 Sep 08 dissolution of Parliament, the NDP held 30 seats.
****** As of the 7 Sep 08 dissolution of Parliament, three seats are held by independents.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 33,245,773 (2008)
• Registered Voters: 23,677,639 (October 2008 )

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 16,759,792 (est.)

·         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: 68 (House of Commons) (following 2008 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: 4,986,865 (est.)