Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday kicked off the campaign for next month's Canadian general election, gunning to hold onto his liberal majority in a tight race against newcomers on both flanks.
The parties have already been wooing voters with pre-election ads, announcements and whistle stops in key battlegrounds across the country.
But Governor General Julie Payette's dissolution of parliament, at Trudeau's behest, marked the official start of the race to the October 21 ballot.
Trudeau will officially kick off what is set to be a grueling campaign for a second term as he takes on surging rivals in Canada's October 21 national elections.
The prime minister is due to meet with Governor General Julie Payette at 10:00 am (1400 GMT) and ask her to dissolve parliament.
The election campaign can then officially begin, although political leaders and parties have already been wooing voters with pre-election ads, announcements and whistle stops in key battlegrounds across the country.
Elected in 2015, Trudeau and the Liberal Party will be battling to hold onto a majority in parliament against untested rivals Andrew Scheer of the Conservatives and New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, as well as the strengthening Greens led by Elizabeth May.
Voters will choose all 338 members of the House of Commons, with the latest poll on Tuesday showing the Liberals reclaiming a slight lead over the Tories.
Accusations of Trudeau meddling in a criminal prosecution sent the Liberals' popularity tumbling at the start of the year.
