The following is a timeline of the Canadian federal election, 2004. More on the election in general is available in the article 2004 Canadian federal election.

2002 May 13 - In seven by-elections across the country, the Liberal Party of Canada is re-elected in two ridings in Quebec, one in Newfoundland and Labrador, and one in Manitoba while losing one to the New Democratic Party (NDP) in Windsor West, where Brian Masse was elected, and one to the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, when Rex Barnes was elected. The leader of the Canadian Alliance, Stephen Harper wins easily in Calgary Southwest, replacing out-going former Reform Party of Canada leader Preston Manning. June 2 - Paul Martin resigns as Minister of Finance. John Manley is named to replace him. August 21 - Prime Minister Jean Chrétien tells Canadians he will step down in February 2004. December 9 - The Bloc Québécois is able to hold on to two seats in by-elections electing Roger Gaudet in Berthier—Montcalm, replacing Michel Bellehumeur, and electing Sébastien Gagnon in Lac-Saint-Jean—Saguenay, replacing Stéphan Tremblay. Despite winning both elections, these elections were very close, especially since in the 2000 election these seats were won by 15 000 and 14 000 votes respectively.

2003

January 25 - Jack Layton is elected leader of the NDP at the party's convention in Toronto. Layton wins on the first ballot, with 53.5% of the vote. February 5 - Pierrette Venne is suspended from the caucus of the Bloc Québécois, and on February 6 sits as an Independent member of the Bloc. February 14 - Jim Harris is elected as the new leader of the Green Party of Canada. May 12 - The Liberal Party loses another seat through by-elections, this time to the Progressive Conservative Party as Gary Schellenberger replaces John Alexander Richardson in the riding of Perth—Middlesex. May 31 - Peter MacKay wins the Progressive Conservative leadership after forming a deal with leadership candidate David Orchard. MacKay promised a review of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and also promised that no deal on electoral cooperation would be made with the Canadian Alliance, a promise he would later break. June 16 - The Bloc Québécois lose two more seats, this time in by-elections as the Liberal Party of Canada's Christian Jobin replaces the out-going BQ Antoine Dubé in Lévis—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, and the Liberals' Gilbert Barrette replaces the out-going BQ Pierre Brien in Témiscamingue. September 9 - Ottawa Centre MP Mac Harb is appointed to the Senate of Canada, leaving the seat vacant until the 2004 election. Ottawa lawyer Richard Mahoney will be the Liberals' representative for the riding in the upcoming election. October 15 - The Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party announce plans to unite to form a new party called the Conservative Party of Canada. November 14 - Paul Martin officially becomes leader of the Liberal Party of Canada winning 3,242 of 3,455 votes against Sheila Copps.

November 27 - Canadian Alliance Party leader Stephen Harper fires Alliance Member of Parliament Larry Spencer as Family Values Critic after his anti-gay remarks. November 28 - Liberal Party of Canada member John Manley announces his retirement from politics. December 3 - Member of Parliament Robert Lanctôt announces his departure from the Bloc Québécois to join the Liberal Party of Canada, saying to the press: "After dreaming about sovereignty for 40 years, I said to myself that dreaming is fine, but at a certain point you have to wake up." Also on December 3, Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal states that he will not seek re-election. December 5 - The Canadian Alliance votes with a 96% majority in favour of merging with the Progressive Conservative Party. December 6 - The Progressive Conservative Party votes with a 90% majority in favour of merging with the Canadian Alliance. December 8 - The Conservative Party of Canada is officially registered with Elections Canada. The party's first interim leader is Senator John Lynch-Staunton, with a formal leadership race scheduled for March 2004. Three Progressive Conservative MPs (Joe Clark, John Herron and André Bachand) announce that they will not sit as members of the new party, but will serve out their terms as Independent Progressive Conservatives.

December 9 - Senators Lowell Murray, Norman Atkins and William Doody are the first senators to decide not join the new Conservative Party, choosing to remain in the Progressive Conservative Party if the Speaker will let them. Also on December 9, Liberal leadership runner-up Sheila Copps refuses Prime Minister-designate Paul Martin's patronage appointment proposal for Copps. She will have to fight to retain her riding, as Canada's ridings have been redrawn, and she now shares it with MP Tony Valeri. December 10 - Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative MP, crosses the floor, and sits with the Liberal Party of Canada. Brison is the fourth PC MP, out of an original caucus of 15, to decide not to sit with the new Conservative Party. December 11 - Former Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief announces he will not run in the 2004 election. December 12 - Paul Martin is sworn in as Canada's 21st Prime Minister, along with his cabinet. Notable ministers include Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan in Domestic Security, Ralph Goodale in Finance, Pierre Pettigrew in Health and Intergovernmental Affairs, Lucienne Robillard in Industry, Irwin Cotler in Justice, Bill Graham in Foreign Affairs and David Pratt in Defence. Jean Chrétien, on his last day as Prime Minister of Canada, resigns his seat in the House of Commons. December 18 - Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent announces he will be running in the riding of Ottawa Centre in the upcoming election.

2004

Lead up to the election call January 9 - The new Conservative Party of Canada announces its new caucus officers, dividing the positions equally between members of the former Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative caucuses. Grant Hill is the new interim Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons until the party's leadership race in March. January 14 - Vancouver Island MP Dr. Keith Martin resigns from the Conservative Party to sit as an Independent and announces he will seek the Liberal nomination for his riding of Equimalt—Juan de Fuca. Former Deputy Prime Minister Sheila Copps indicates that she may consider running for the NDP if she does not win the Liberal nomination battle in her riding. Quebec MP André Bachand, elected as a Progressive Conservative, confirms he will sit as an Independent and not run again.

January 20 - Belinda Stronach announces that she will be running to become the leader of the new Conservative Party of Canada. January 20 - Ed Broadbent wins the NDP nomination for the riding of Ottawa Centre. He will run against Paul Martin loyalist Richard Mahoney. January 23 - The Natural Law Party of Canada de-registers with Elections Canada. February 2 - The first session of Parliament with Paul Martin as Prime Minister opens with the speech from the throne delivered by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. February 5 - Former cabinet ministers Martin Cauchon and Bob Nault indicate they will not run again. February 6 - New Brunswick MP John Herron, currently sitting as an Independent Progressive Conservative, announces he will seek the Liberal nomination for his riding of Fundy in the 2004 election; Bloc co-founder Jean Lapierre announces he will seek the Liberal nomination in Cauchon's former riding of Outremont. February 10 - The Auditor General releases her report, launching the sponsorship scandal; Paul Martin calls for a public inquiry. February 13 - Former cabinet minister Jane Stewart announces she will not run again. February 16 - Saint John Conservative MP Elsie Wayne announces she will not run again. February 17 - John Bryden, MP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Aldershot, announces that he is leaving the Liberals to sit as an independent. He will later join the Conservative Party of Canada. February 20 - Former Ontario Progressive Conservative Party member and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Gary Carr announces his intention to seek the Liberal nomination in Halton riding. March 6 - Tony Valeri defeats Sheila Copps in a battle for the Liberal nomination in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek. This battle, brought on by the 2004 redistribution of Canadian ridings, had been seen by some people as an attempt by forces loyal to Prime Minister Paul Martin to push Copps out of politics. Copps considers running as an independent. The brother of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, David McGuinty is chosen over Ottawa city councillor Diane Deans to become the Liberal candidate in the riding of Ottawa South. March 7 - Carolyn Parrish, MP defeats fellow MP and former cabinet minister Steve Mahoney for the redistributed riding Mississauga—Erindale. March 8 - Former New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna announces he is prepared to run if a suitable riding becomes available; Connie Fogal is acclaimed as the new leader of the Canadian Action Party. March 9 - Conservative leadership hopeful Belinda Stronach wins her party's nomination in Newmarket—Aurora, Ontario. March 10 - Sheila Copps accuses the PMO and Tony Valeri's campaign team of using fraudulent tactics to prevent her supporters from voting and to cause their ballots to be ignored. Monia Mazigh announces her intention to seek the NDP nomination in Ottawa South; the NDP had championed the cause of her husband Maher Arar after the US deported him to Syria despite his Canadian citizenship. March 20 - Stephen Harper is elected leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, with 55.5% of the vote on the first ballot. March 23 - Finance Minister Ralph Goodale tables what is generally seen as a pre-election budget in the House of Commons. March 29 - Progressive Canadian Party registers with Elections Canada March 30 - Published press reports indicate that Paul Martin will directly nominate BC's former NDP Premier Ujjal Dosanjh, Canfor chair David Emerson, IWA leader Dave Haggard, LPC(BC) President Bill Cunningham and subsidized housing manager Shirley Chan to run in BC ridings. March 31 - Liberal Party launches four television adds featuring Prime Minister Paul Martin talking about key election issues

April 1 - Prime Minister Martin announces Ujjal Dosanjh, David Emerson and Shirley Chan as "star candidates" in Vancouver, British Columbia April 3 - Conservative leader Stephen Harper tours Atlantic Canada. The move is widely seen as the kickoff to his election campaign. April 14 - Monia Mazigh wins the NDP nomination in Ottawa South. April 15 - Admitting to shoplifting a diamond ring, Burnaby-Douglas NDP MP Svend Robinson announces he will not run again. April 25 - Independent MP Joe Clark, a former Prime Minister and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party endorses Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin over Conservative leader Stephen Harper in the upcoming election. April 26 - Paul Martin and his cabinet discuss whether or not to call a June election at a dinner meeting at 24 Sussex Drive. CTV News reports that Martin will make a decision on a spring election in one week's time but that if an election is to go ahead the writs will be dropped on May 9 with a vote on June 14. April 27 - Health Minister Pierre Pettigrew holds a press conference to announce that he's in favour of public delivery of health care claiming that he misspoke the day before when he implied in an interview that private health care delivery was an option. This retraction is seen as a move by Pettigrew to prevent his earlier statement from being used by the opposition in the election campaign. April 29 & 30 - Paul Martin visits George W. Bush in Washington, D.C. Some predict an election will be called soon after Martin returns.