ItB次元官网网址檚 not like in the United States, where election day occurs like clockwork on the same week every four years B次元官网网址� and has since before Canada was a country. North of the 49th parallel, the mechanics of calling voters to the polls are a little more complicated, with convention and the Constitution each playing a part.
With a federal campaign expected to kick off this Sunday, hereB次元官网网址檚 a look at how an election is called in Canada:
The first step
The prime minister heads over to Rideau Hall to request the Governor General dissolve Parliament.
If opposition MPs pass a motion stating theyB次元官网网址檝e lost confidence in the government, that too would prompt Justin Trudeau to pay a visit to the QueenB次元官网网址檚 representative B次元官网网址� Mary Simon, who was sworn in on July 26. This scenario played out during the last minority government in 2011, triggering an election that handed Stephen Harper a majority.
A fixed-date election B次元官网网址� federal legislation dictates the next one must take place on or before Oct. 16, 2023 B次元官网网址� would also require a prime ministerial door knock at 1 Sussex Drive.
But neither a deadline nor a direct shove from the House of Commons are pushing Trudeau toward the viceregal grounds. Instead he can exercise his prerogative as head of government to advise the Governor General for dissolution.
What if Simon says no?
Constitutionally, the Governor General B次元官网网址� as the viceroy B次元官网网址� is the only one authorized to call a new election. Conventionally, she only does so when advised by the prime minister.
B次元官网网址淧ut heavy quotation marks around the word B次元官网网址榓dvise,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� says Peter Russell, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto.
While only one governor general has refused that B次元官网网址渁dviceB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� Lord Byng turned down Mackenzie KingB次元官网网址檚 request in 1926, setting off a constitutional crisis B次元官网网址� other viceregal representatives have found cause to spurn their first ministers.
In 2017, British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 lieutenant-governor said no to then-premier Christy ClarkB次元官网网址檚 suggestion to dissolve the legislature and trigger another election less than eight weeks after voters went to the polls.
A governor general might also reasonably reject a dissolution request if other parties in the House of Commons could form government, Russell said.
No bucking the Westminster system
CanadaB次元官网网址檚 system of Parliament is derived from the United KingdomB次元官网网址檚, whose roots go back eight centuries during which Parliament gradually whittled away the once overweening power of the monarchy in favour of representative democracy.
The formal structure of Crown and Parliament remained, however.
B次元官网网址淚n that long tradition, the Crown called the first parliament in the 13th century,B次元官网网址� Russell said. B次元官网网址淎nd weB次元官网网址檝e continued that.B次元官网网址�
With Parliament dissolved, whoB次元官网网址檚 running the show during an election campaign?
The prime minister and cabinet remain in office throughout the race B次元官网网址� and briefly after it B次元官网网址� to keep the ship of state on course and respond to major events or emergencies.
But their official roles are sharply curtailed B次元官网网址� again, by convention: the B次元官网网址渃aretaker convention.B次元官网网址�
Eventually spelled out in a set of guidelines released by the Privy Council Office in 2015, caretaker mode means government activity scales down to matters that are B次元官网网址渞outine, or non-controversial, or urgent and in the public interest, or reversible by a new government without undue cost or disruption, or agreed to by opposition parties.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e not supposed to be out making decisions that would bind a future government,B次元官网网址� says Lori Turnbull, director of the School of Public Administration at Dalhousie University.
B次元官网网址淎nd because thereB次元官网网址檚 no House to give them confidence, the government doesnB次元官网网址檛 have the authority to act. But obviously we donB次元官网网址檛 want everything to shut down.B次元官网网址�
New policies are put off and big decisions delayed as ministers hit the hustings. Much of their staff go on leave to campaign across the country, leaving behind a skeleton crew. Cabinet also steers clear of judicial appointments and new postings to tribunals, advisory boards and Crown corporations.
As with many conventions, the limits of caretaker mode are not precisely defined. In 2004, critics said then-prime minister Paul Martin stepped over the line when he attended the annual G8 meeting, sparking accusations he used the office to boost his profile during the election campaign.
The B次元官网网址榳rit dropB次元官网网址�
Dropping the writ refers to when the Governor General gives the go-ahead and issues writs of election.
But unlike an album or a dinner plate, writs are not, in fact, dropped.
A writ is a formal order instructing the returning officer in each riding to hold a vote to elect an MP. It specifies the deadline for candidate nominations as well as election day in all 338 ridings B次元官网网址� one writ per district.
B次元官网网址淭he Governor General issues a proclamation that basically starts the process for an election. The writs are then prepared by the chief electoral officer and sent out,B次元官网网址� Turnbull says. They are returned to the chief electoral officer following the election.
Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press
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