Hamilton and Niagara residents go to the polls in federal election

• Read all of CBC Hamilton's coverage of the federal election here.
• Later in the day, follow local election results here and all results from across the country here. 

Along with the rest of Canada, Hamiltonians go to the polls today in a federal election, with U.S. economic and sovereignty threats and affordability among the main issues being considered, as Canadians choose a government to lead the country for the next four years.

Mark Carney triggered the vote in March, weeks after he was elected to lead the Liberal Party following Justin Trudeau's resignation.

An estimated 7.3 million Canadians — a record — cast their ballots in early voting over the Easter weekend, according to Elections Canada. That's a 25 per cent increase from 2021.

Nationally, the Conservative Party of Canada, led by Pierre Poilievre, and the Liberal Party are the leading contenders, according to CBC's poll tracker. The NDP, led by Jagmeet Singh, is trying to hold onto official party status.

How to vote

Polls are open 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. ET. People still waiting in line at 9:30 p.m. will still be able to vote. Elections Canada notes there are three options for voting:

• Show your driver's licence or any other card issued by the Canadian government with your photo, name and current address.

• Show two pieces of ID that have your name and at least one must have your current address. That could include a voter information card and a bank statement or a utility bill or student card. A full list of accepted ID is available on the Elections Canada website. Expired ID can be used as proof of identity if it has your name and as a proof of residence.

• If you don't have ID, you can declare your identity and address in writing and have someone who knows you vouch for you at a polling station. The person vouching for you must be able to prove their identity and address. A person can vouch for only one person (except in long-term care facilities).

Polling locations can be found by typing your postal code into the Elections Canada website. People can also contact local candidates for help to find their polling locations and some candidates will also offer transportation help if necessary.

Get to know your riding 

Want to know more about your riding, the candidates and the local issues that matter to them? CBC Hamilton has a profile for each of the 12 ridings in the Hamilton and Niagara area. Find out more about:

• Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations.
• Burlington.
• Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North.
• Haldimand—Norfolk.
• Hamilton Centre.
• Hamilton East—Stoney Creek.
• Hamilton Mountain.
• Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas.
• Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake.
• Niagara South.
• Niagara West.
• St. Catharines.

The issues

Over the course of the campaign, CBC Hamilton heard from residents who said that in addition to the U.S. tariffs, other issues would also help shape how they vote. These include:

• Cost of living.
• Housing.
• Public safety.
• Health care.
• Climate change and the environment.

"I check [food] prices constantly — there's no room for anything extra," Hamilton resident Joe Struthers told CBC News. 

"If my landlord decides to sell, I'd probably end up homeless. I couldn't afford anything else in the city." 

Another resident, Jessica Fawcett, an occupational therapist and a mother of two, says her family's financial future feels uncertain — squeezed by the lack of affordable daycare and the prospect of renewing her mortgage at a much higher interest rate next year.

Shri Kulkarni, a tech worker and a father in Burlington, thought buying a home would offer his family security. Instead, he says they're feeling the financial strain more than ever.

"We bought during the peak," he said. "Now mortgage rates are way up, and home values are down. We're stuck — can't sell, can't save, and every month costs us more."

Leaders made several visits to Hamilton

In their costed platforms, the Liberals promised to generate revenue by boosting investment. The Conservatives said they would pay for significant tax cuts by slashing government spending and upping revenue from home-building and policy changes, such as repealing Ottawa's Impact Assessment Act. The NDP said it would invest billions in health care and tax the wealthy. 

The leaders of the Conservative Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party (NDP) visited Hamilton during the first week of the federal election campaign. McMaster University politics Prof. Peter Graefe said those visits highlighted the importance of the area to the parties. 

Graefe said the NDP leader "wants to hold on to the one seat that he has in the city — Hamilton Centre," but also he sees a possibility to expand his caucus in Ottawa, with the Hamilton Mountain seat.

The riding was held by the NDP from 2006 until 2021, when then MP Scott Duvall said he would not seek reelection. Former journalist Lisa Hepfner won for the Liberals.

For Poilievre, Graefe said he might want to reach for the Hamilton East-Stoney Creek (HESC) seat, where the current incumbent is Liberal Chad Collins.

Carney was also in Hamilton on March 12 when he visited steelmaker ArcelorMittal Dofasco. During the visit he spoke with steelworkers about the tariffs on Canadian steel and his confidence in the future of the company.

The leaders of the Conservatives, Liberals and NDP all made subsequent trips to Hamilton throughout the five-week campaign, including Carney on Sunday.

"In Hamilton, going out to vote is going to matter. I think if these party leaders are coming here, it's because they feel that these ridings can go different ways," said Graefe.