Sources say Justin Trudeau will Call a Snap Election for September 20 on Sunday

According to a source speaking to multiple legacy media companies, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is planning on visiting Rideau Hall this weekend and will be asking the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and for a new election to be held on September 20. 

The source or sources leaking this information to the press so far have chosen to remain anonymous. 

September 20 would be only 36 days after Sunday making it the bare minimum number of days required for a federal election, showing Trudeau thinks the less time the public is given to decide who to vote for the better his chances are at securing a Liberal majority.

Currently, the polling aggregation website 338 gives the Liberals a 48.7 percent chance of a majority government and a 47.8 percent chance of a minority government.

The Conservative Party under Erin O’Toole’s leadership currently only has a 3.2 percent chance at winning a minority government, based on current polling.

It should be noted that the Liberals probably will take a dip in the polls once they call an election as the Liberals’ own base will be those Canadians most likely concerned about COVID-19 and not believing that it could be dangerous to hold an election at this time.

Currently it can only be considered a rumour that Trudeau will call the election this Sunday as last Sunday it was also rumoured the election would be called and instead, Canadians saw three Liberal MPs announce they would not be seeking reelection. There is also always the chance Trudeau changes plans on when he calls the election if it was to be this Sunday.

So far in anticipation of Trudeau calling for a new snap election, O’Toole and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh have been putting out what are essentially election ads condemning Trudeau for considering calling an election based on fears of increases in infection rates.  That tactic, in particular, got O’Toole in trouble with his own base, indicating that it may be a rhetorical line to leave to the NDP to deploy against the Liberals.

It will be interesting to see in a new election, especially one called on such short notice, if newer parties like the PPC, Maverick, and the True North Party (recently started by Derek Sloan) will be able to break through due to the frustration of Canadians and especially Westerners, or if more centre-right voters will still rally behind the CPC despite moving to the left.