Federal political party leaders are celebrating Canada Day across the country, marking a busy day in the summer barbecue circuit that's serving, this year, as an unofficial campaign for the October election.
Canada Day is a key opportunity for politicians to reach out to voters less than four months ahead of the federal vote. From pancake breakfasts to citizenship ceremonies to concerts, here's how the leaders will celebrate the country's 148th birthday.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper attends Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill, where he will deliver remarks during noon-hour performances.
Harper will be joined by his wife Laureen, children Rachel and Ben, as well as Governor General David Johnston and Heritage Minister Shelly Glover.
Both opposition party leaders celebrate in the vote-rich Greater Toronto Area.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair starts his day with two citizenship ceremonies and a lawn bowling tournament in Toronto. He'll then make his way to a Woodbine Park concert with area NDP MP for Beaches-East York Matthew Kellway, and finish the day at MP for Davenport Andrew Cash's third annual Canada Day barbecue.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau also starts Canada Day in the Toronto area, where he attends a volunteer appreciation event in Mississauga, followed by a parade in the city. He'll then visit nearby Brampton before heading to Guelph. The Liberal leader will end his day at the University of Waterloo's Canada Day celebration.
The Green Party's Elizabeth May will spend her Canada Day in and around Vancouver Island, home to her riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands. May kicks her day off early with a pancake breakfast at the Sidney Lions Club, followed by the town's Canada Day parade. May will then do some island hopping to Salt Spring Island, where she will attend a car show, and Saturna Island, for a barbecue.
And, to no one's surprise, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe will not be celebrating Canada Day. Rather, he will await the results of a special meeting of the Bloc's general council in Nicolet, where delegates will vote on a recent proposal confirming him as leader.
Earlier this month, after a four-year hiatus from federal politics, Duceppe returned to lead the Bloc Quebecois. It is expected that the council will ratify Duceppe as leader on Wednesday.
