Canada's Got Talent season 5

The auditions took place in front of the judges and a live audience. At any time during the audition, the judges showed their disapproval of the act by pressing a buzzer, which lights a large red "X" on the stage. If all the judges pressed their buzzers, the act must end. Voting worked on a majority-of-three basis, where three positive votes from the judges were required. The Golden Buzzer is placed in the center of the stage, and each judge (or the host) can only press the Golden Buzzer once, sending an act straight to the semi-finals.^[1]

The elimination round and final were broadcast through two episodes. Judges could still end a performance early with four Xs. The acts competed for three judge votes that sent them straight to the finals, and the rest competed for a Canada-wide vote that dictated the rest of the finalists. The judges were asked to express their views on each act's performance. Phone lines, Twitter, Facebook, texting and online voting platforms opened for one-hour after all acts were performed. The public voted for the act they thought was the best. Voters could submit a total of fifty votes (ten in each platform). After the votes were counted, the act that polled the highest number of public votes, automatically was placed in the final. The judges then chose between the second and third most popular acts, with the winner of that vote also gaining a place in the final. All other acts were then eliminated from the competition.

The acts who made it through the Eliminations have a final shot at performing once again, and all of the acts competed for a Canada-wide vote that determined the winner of the season. This round has been broadcast live, and the winner is revealed at the end of the episode.

Judges for Canada's Got Talent (season 5)

Kardinal Offishall

Katherine Ryan

Shania Twain

Howie Mandel

Two new judges joined the panel in the fifth season: comedian Katherine Ryan and country superstar Shania Twain, replacing Trish Stratus and Lilly Singh respectively. Howie Mandel and Kardinal Offishall returned for their fourth seasons as judges, while Lindsay Ell returned for her fourth season as host.^[2]