What is dissolution of Parliament?

Dissolution of Parliament is the constitutional act by which a current Parliament is ended and a federal election is called. Dissolution is performed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and is the principal trigger for a federal election. The Governor General issues writs of election (formal documents directing a Returning Officer in each riding to conduct an election). The election period from writ issue to Election Day is typically 36 to 50 days under federal law.

Dissolution differs from prorogation in important ways. Prorogation ends a session of an existing Parliament but the Parliament continues; dissolution ends the Parliament itself and triggers a new federal election. Prorogation is followed by a new Speech from the Throne; dissolution is followed by election campaigns, voting, and the formation of a new Parliament. After dissolution, the existing Members of Parliament cease to be MPs (though incumbents may run for re-election as candidates).

Dissolution can be triggered in three main circumstances. First, the Prime Minister advises the Governor General to dissolve Parliament for an election (the most common trigger), with the advice usually coming at a politically advantageous moment for the governing party. Second, the government loses a confidence vote in the House of Commons; the Prime Minister then advises dissolution rather than resignation (or, very rarely, the Governor General refuses dissolution and asks another MP to attempt to form government, as in the 1926 King-Byng Affair). Third, Parliament reaches its constitutional maximum term of five years under section 4 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, at which point dissolution is automatic.

Federal fixed-election-date legislation, introduced by Bill C-16 in 2007, provides that general elections normally take place on the third Monday of October every four years. The federal Court ruled in Conacher v. Canada (2009) that fixed-date legislation does not constrain the Prime Minister's prerogative advice on dissolution; the Prime Minister can advise dissolution earlier if politically advantageous. Recent Canadian federal elections have used early dissolution: the 2008, 2011, 2015, 2021, and 2025 elections were all called before the scheduled fixed-date. Provincial fixed-date legislation operates similarly, with provincial Premiers retaining authority to advise early dissolution. The 2025 federal election was called by Prime Minister Mark Carney with dissolution on March 23, 2025, leading to the April 28, 2025 election.