Why is “prorogation of parliament” possible – as opposed to the GG calling an election or asking someone else among the MPs to be the PM?

Prorogation is possible because the vote that would have triggered the loss of confidence in the House has not yet occurred. Until the vote occurs, the government technically still has the confidence of the House and all usual rules apply. One such usual rule is that the PM can ask the GG to prorogate parliament.

Each Parliament is made up of one or more sessions, each consisting of a number of separate sittings (meetings), separated by periods of adjournment. Each session, except the final one, ends when Parliament is prorogued by the Governor General. The final session ends with the dissolution of Parliament and the calling of a general election. The Constitution sets the maximum lifespan of a Parliament at five years; however, recent changes to the Canada Elections Act provide for fixed date elections every four years.

Adapted in part from: www.parl.gc.ca/compendium/web-content/c_g_parliamentarycycle-e.htm.

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See also: More Coalition Government and Prorogation of Parliament FAQs

Updated December 2008

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