THUNDER BAY — In the final analysis, voter turnout in the 2025 federal election was higher than in 2021 but not as high as some expected.
High numbers at advance polls, where 7.3 million voted, fuelled anticipation that this year’s total voter turnout could exceed 70 per cent.
In the end, Elections Canada reported that 69 per cent of eligible electors cast ballots nationwide in the vote that re-elected the Liberals.
That’s much better than the 63 per cent turnout for the September 2021 election, but well short of the 75 per cent seen in 1988 and 1984. Or, for that matter, the 79 per cent in 1958, when John Diefenbaker’s Progressive Conservatives won a landslide majority in the House of Commons.
Turnout was lower in Northwestern Ontario this year than it was nationwide, from just over 60 per cent in Kenora-Kiiwetinoong to just under 68 per cent Thunder Bay-Superior North.
Thunder Bay-Superior North had 45,520 voters, or 67.8 per cent of 67,100 registered electors, cast ballots. The Elections Canada website notes that the 67,100 “does not include electors who registered on election day.”
Superior North returning officer Dale Mason said Wednesday it “sure didn’t feel like” a low turnout. “We were very busy.”
Mason said he was pleased with the level of voter participation.
“When you open a store, you want customers,” he said. “We opened a store and had a lot of customers.
“I’m glad Canadians came out to vote.”
Turnout in Thunder Bay-Rainy River was 61.8 per cent.
Kenora-Kiiwetinoong saw 60.2 per cent of electors exercise their franchise.
Nationally, almost 19.6 million Canadians voted.
