Political parties will officially kick off their federal election campaigns today after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits Rideau Hall to ask the Governor General to dissolve Parliament.

The visit will launch a 40-day campaign that will see Trudeau make the pitch to Canadians that he and his Liberals should be given a second majority government.

But his opponents will work to convince voters not only that Trudeau shouldn't get the second mandate, but why they should be elected to govern instead.

After his meeting with the Governor General, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will make his way to Vancouver where he will begin the Liberal campaign at a rally for former television news anchor Tamara Taggart.

Taggart is running for the Liberals in the BC riding of Vancouver Kingsway.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is to launch his election effort at a morning event in Quebec before heading to Toronto for an evening rally where the focus will be on the Tories' pledge to help Canadians get ahead.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will launch his party's official campaign in London, Ontario, and Green leader Elizabeth May will kick things off in Victoria.

Maxime Bernier will launch his maiden campaign for his People's Party in Toronto alongside one of his star candidates, Renata Ford, who is the wife of the city's late mayor Rob Ford and sister-in-law of Ontario Premier Doug Ford.