Talk:Fixed election dates in Canada

Untitled
"It is unclear how much consideration a Governor General or Lieutenant Governor must give to such a request, particularly in the case of a minority government, given the fixed date election law."

I thought that when the PM (or premier) formally asked the GG to drop the writ that they were bound by constitutional convention to do so without question? NorthernThunder (talk) 01:38, 9 October 2008 (UTC)

The Governor-General has the option of asking the opposition parties to form a government, either by coalition or a minority government. As for premiers, they make their request to their provincial lieutenant-governor, not the GG. FergusV9S (talk) 23:26, 15 October 2008 (UTC)

Misleading first Paragraph

 * The first paragraph is extremely misleading and I plan on changing it unless I get slapped silly here. "Therefore, in the case of a minority government, the Opposition collectively has the power to force an election, while the governing party may not." This simply isn't true. There is NOTHING in the text of the Act that prevents a Prime Minister from going to the GG and requesting that the House be dismissed and a writ dropped. In fact, it clearly states that nothing in the act shall remove any ability of the GG to call an election. Fergus is correct in pointing out that the GG has the option of requesting the Opposition parties to form a government, but the GG MUST have a reasonable belief that the Opposition parties CAN command the confidence of the house.  The last time this was used on a federal level was the Bing-King affair in the 1920s, so it really has become convention for the GG to accept the PM's request. (just as a point of further clarification Fergus, the Premiers DO go to the LTG, but they also have the option of requesting the GG take a look at their matter if they don't like what they got from the LTG  Dphilp75 (talk) 00:56, 28 August 2009 (UTC)

Municipal Elections
All Municipal Election dates in the country as fixed, thus fixed election dates isn't a new thing in Canada. Maybe this can be incorporated in the article. Bourquie (talk) 22:43, 12 August 2010 (UTC)


 * It could well be... But it's a little different with Municipal Elections in that the Province sets the dates, not the Municipalities themselves. Cities actually don't technically exist in Canada, but are LEGALLY "creations of the province." This so how the Province can (For example) force a merger of the GTA or the GMA.  Dphilp75 (talk) 19:05, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

Yet to be practiced?
The "Canada" section of the article contains a statement about the amended Canada Elections Act being a "law [that] has yet to be practiced". What is the meaning of the claim, and what is its source? The law is in force; it's "practiced" every day. -- Ħ   MIESIANIACAL  02:09, 29 August 2011 (UTC)
 * The law it is referring to is the October of the fourth year section of the Canada Elections Act, which was added in 2006, as explained in the previous paragraphs. If this is confusing, perhaps the word "law" should be changed. What is it that you believe has been/is practiced? 117Avenue (talk) 02:34, 29 August 2011 (UTC)
 * Am I correct in thinking that all the sentence is trying to say is that the set four year maximum life of a parliament has yet to be reached? -- Ħ   MIESIANIACAL  02:39, 29 August 2011 (UTC)
 * That is correct. If you find this sentence confusing, what is it that we can change? 117Avenue (talk) 02:42, 29 August 2011 (UTC)

Electoral collision in 2015
Is there any merit to mentioning, in the article, that there is the possibility of simultaneous federal and provincial-territorial elections in 2015? The federal election of 2011 occurred in the spring, but the legislation sets a fall election, which would coincide with the elections in Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories.


 * PEI, NWT - first Monday in October, (from around 8 Sept in PEI to) 5 October 2015
 * MB - first Tuesday in October, (from around 9 Sept to) 6 October 2015
 * ON - first Thursday in October, (if 29 days, from around 9 Sept to) 8 October 2015
 * NL - second Tuesday in October, (if 22 days, from around 21 Sept to) 13 October 2015
 * Fed - third Monday in October, (36 days, from 13 Sept to) 19 October 2015
 * SK - first Monday in November, (if 28 days, from around 5 Oct to) 2 November 2015

Therefore, if the schedule is adhered to:
 * on 8 Sep 2015, PEI starts
 * 9 Sep, Manitoba and Ontario start
 * 13 Sep, federal starts
 * 21 Sep, Newfoundland and Labrador starts
 * unknown date, NWT starts
 * 5 Oct, PEI and NWT vote while Saskatchewan starts
 * 6 Oct, Manitoba votes
 * 8 Oct, Ontario votes
 * 13 Oct, Nfld votes
 * 19 Oct, Canada votes
 * 2 Nov, Saskatchewan votes.

Many municipal elections are held in October and November, depending on provincial legislation.

Harper has speculated about holding the federal election at a different date to avoid this situation, so again, the election may not occur automatically according to legislation, since it would be easier for one jurisdiction to make a change than for six to all make a change. GBC (talk) 04:39, 31 October 2012 (UTC)
 * I believe that they all have the ability to move the date if it conflicts with something, for example a religious holiday. The 2007 Ontario general election was held six days late. Manitoba has its protocol written into the act, see 41st Manitoba general election. 117Avenue (talk) 06:08, 31 October 2012 (UTC)