OTTAWA—Canadian party leaders worked their way around the country this week, in what some see as a sure sign the pandemic is near its end, but also as proof that a federal election is on its way. But with the fixed-election date still more than two years away, does a pre-election campaign that looks like a pre-election campaign and smells like a pre-election campaign, actually qualify as a pre-election campaign? Not according to Canada’s newest election law. The Election Modernization Act of 2018 would normally mean politicians can glad-hand—or elbow, in pandemic times—to their hearts’ content in the summer before an election. But they can only spend a limited amount on advertising. This year, that act does not apply. That’s because by the fixed-election date law, Canada’s next federal election isn’t supposed to be held until October 2023. But a minority Parliament like this one, where the governing Liberals are …