Fixed election dates in Canada

In Canada, the federal government and all provinces and territories have enacted legislation setting fixed election dates so that elections occur on a more regular timeline (usually every four years) and the date of a forthcoming election is publicly known. However, the governor general, the provincial lieutenant governors, and the territorial commissioners still have the constitutional power to call a general election on the advice of the relevant first minister at any point before the fixed date. By-elections, used to fill vacancies in a legislature, are also not affected by fixed election dates. rdf:langString