Explainer-What are the potential outcomes of Canada’s general election? | U.S. & World [Video]

By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada will hold a general election on April 28, with polls indicating a close race between Prime Minister Mark Carney’s ruling Liberals and the official opposition Conservatives of Pierre Poilievre.

There are 343 seats in the elected House of Commons chamber. A party falling short of the 172 seats needed for a majority is obliged to create a minority government reliant on support from opposition legislators to stay in power. Minority governments tend to be less stable and rarely last more than two years.

Here are the potential outcomes of the vote and what they would mean:

MAJORITY LIBERAL GOVERNMENT

This result would be the most straightforward. Carney would continue to govern without interruption. Before the House returned on May 26, he would put together a cabinet, work on a budget and outline his plans for the next parliamentary session.

MINORITY LIBERAL GOVERNMENT

Carney would continue to govern but have to either negotiate …