Canadian PM Trudeau dissolves Parliament; launches campaign for October 21 election

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-stop 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.

Liberal Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces a tough general election on October 21, dogged by an ethics scandal that has taken the shine off his golden boy image and left him vulnerable to a sharp challenge from Conservative Andrew Scheer.

Also in pursuit of a bigger share of Canada's political pie are social democrat Jagmeet Singh and climate crusader Elizabeth May, who hope to deny the frontrunners a majority.