Amid a flurry of media reports that he may be facing an unexpectedly competitive race in his own Ottawa-area riding, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is set to start the day in Halifax, N.S., where, according to his team, he’ll hold an earlier-than-usual “message event” and take four questions from reporters. (8:30 a.m. AT)

After that wraps up, it’s wheels up for Saskatoon, Sask., where he’ll headline a “Rally for Change” at the Bizhub Industrial Park this evening. (6 p.m. CST)

Last night, the Toronto Star reported that the party is “funneling resources into (Poilievere’s) local campaign … over concerns that winning his seat is not guaranteed,” with one unnamed Conservative source telling the paper that Poilievre “appears to be in trouble in Carleton, the sprawling riding (he) has held since its creation in 2015,” and “additional volunteers have been called in to knock on doors and assist with the campaign, including Conservative staff from elsewhere in the capital.”

As per a separate — but similar — report in the Globe and Mail, “for the past two weeks,” the party “been sending workers into (Poilievre’s) riding, including experienced campaigners who would normally be assigned to tight races across the country,” and “are also deploying troops from the party’s Ottawa war room to Conservative-held ridings, a sign in the final days of the campaign that the party may be poised to lose seats to the Mark Carney-led Liberals.”

Next up, according to the nightly advisory from his campaign team: New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh, who will make himself available to the media in Winnipeg (9:30 a.m. CST) before circling back to Toronto for a “campaign event” this evening. (7:45 p.m.)

Meanwhile, Liberal leader Mark Carney starts the day in Port Moody, B.C., where he’ll “deliver remarks” ahead of his daily back-and-forth with reporters.  (9 a.m. PDT).

According to his itinerary, he’s also booked in for an on-stage appearance at a rally in Winnipeg this evening. (5:30 p.m. CDT)

Rounding out the roster, Green co-leader Elizabeth May fires up her webcam for an “online dialogue” hosted by the British Columbia Real Estate Association (10 a.m. PDT) before heading to Gordon Head to clock in another afternoon of canvassing in her home riding of Saanich — Gulf Islands, B.C.  (1 p.m. PDT)

Elsewhere on the hustings:

• Three-term Liberal MP and current Treasury Board President Ginette Petitpas Taylor mingles with Moncton-area supporters at a “private residence,” with proceeds from the $400 entry free earmarked for her local riding association. (5 p.m. AT)
• Back in Ontario, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly teams up with Niagara-area Liberal hopeful Andrea Kaiser to make the rounds at a $650 reception that, according to the invite posted to the party website, will include “drinks, hors d’hoeuvres, and an evening of conversation” as Kaiser “works hard to win the riding of Niagara Falls — Niagara-on-the-Lake and turn it red for the first time in 25 years.” (5:45 p.m.)

Also on the radar: B’nai Brith Canada hosts a “live virtual debate” with the four candidates on the ballot in Richmond East — Steveston, B.C. — incumbent Liberal Parm Bains, Conservative hopeful Zach Segal, New Democrat Keefer Pelech and the Green Party’s Steven Ji — who, according to the programme, will “need to answer the tough questions” on their respective “visions for our riding,” as well as “how they will need on national issues” and “where (they) stand when it comes to rising antisemitism.” (7 p.m. PDT)

ON AND AROUND THE HILL

Canadian Construction Association members hit the West Block press theatre to highlight their message to the “next federal government” — namely, to “not take the industry for granted,” and “turn campaign promises into real, modern policies and sustainable investments” via “long-term solutions, not short-term strategies.” (8 a.m.)

IN THE CHAMBER

Following the formal dissolution of the 44th Parliament, the federal election is now underway as voters get ready to head to the polls on Apr. 28, 2025.

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