PROC Committee Report
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Appendix B - Prorogations of the Parliament of Canada From 1867 to the Present
Parliament |
Prorogation |
Date of prorogation |
Date of return |
Prime Minister at the time of prorogation[1] |
Political Affiliation |
Majority or Minority |
43rd Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
2020-08-18 |
2020-09-23 |
The Right Hon. Justin Trudeau |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal minority |
42nd Parliament |
No Prorogation |
N/a |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Justin Trudeau |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
41st Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
2013-09-13 |
2013-10-16 |
The Right Hon. Stephen Harper |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative majority |
40th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
2009-12-30 |
2010-03-03 |
The Right Hon. Stephen Harper |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative minority |
40th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
2008-12-04 |
2009-01-26 |
The Right Hon. Stephen Harper |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative minority |
39th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
2007-09-14 |
2007-10-16 |
The Right Hon. Stephen Harper |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative minority |
38th Parliament |
No Prorogation |
N/a |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Paul Martin |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal minority |
37th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
2003-11-12 |
2004-02-02 |
The Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
37th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
2002-09-16 |
2002-09-30 |
The Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
36th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1999-09-18 |
1999-10-12 |
The Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
35th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1996-02-02 |
1996-02-27 |
The Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
34th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1991-05-12 |
1991-05-13 |
The Right Hon. Brian Mulroney |
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada |
Progressive Conservative majority |
34th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1989-02-28 |
1989-04-03 |
The Right Hon. Brian Mulroney |
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada |
Progressive Conservative majority |
33rd Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1986-08-28 |
1986-09-30 |
The Right Hon. Brian Mulroney |
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada |
Progressive Conservative majority |
32nd Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1983-11-30 |
1983-12-07 |
The Right Hon. Pierre E. Trudeau |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
31st Parliament |
No Prorogation |
N/a |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Joseph Clark |
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada |
Progressive Conservative minority |
30th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1978-10-10 |
1978-10-11 |
The Right Hon. Pierre E. Trudeau |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
30th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1977-10-17 |
1977-10-18 |
The Right Hon. Pierre E. Trudeau |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
30th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1976-10-12 |
1976-10-12 |
The Right Hon. Pierre E. Trudeau |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
29th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1974-02-26 |
1974-02-27 |
The Right Hon. Pierre E. Trudeau |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal minority |
28th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1972-02-16 |
1972-02-17 |
The Right Hon. Pierre E. Trudeau |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
28th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1970-10-07 |
1970-10-08 |
The Right Hon. Pierre E. Trudeau |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
28th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1969-10-22 |
1969-10-23 |
The Right Hon. Pierre E. Trudeau |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
27th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1967-05-08 |
1967-05-08 |
The Right Hon. Lester B. Pearson |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal minority |
26th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1965-04-03 |
1965-04-05 |
The Right Hon. Lester B. Pearson |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal minority |
26th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1963-12-21 |
1964-02-18 |
The Right Hon. Lester B. Pearson |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal minority |
25th Parliament |
No Prorogation |
N/a |
N/a |
The Right Hon. John Diefenbaker |
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada |
Progressive Conservative minority |
24th Parliament |
Between sessions 4 and 5 |
1961-09-29 |
1962-01-18 |
The Right Hon. John Diefenbaker |
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada |
Progressive Conservative majority |
24th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1960-08-10 |
1960-11-17 |
The Right Hon. John Diefenbaker |
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada |
Progressive Conservative majority |
24th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1959-07-18 |
1960-01-14 |
The Right Hon. John Diefenbaker |
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada |
Progressive Conservative majority |
24th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1958-09-06 |
1959-01-15 |
The Right Hon. John Diefenbaker |
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada |
Progressive Conservative majority |
23rd Parliament |
No Prorogation |
N/a |
N/a |
The Right Hon. John Diefenbaker |
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada |
Progressive Conservative minority |
22nd Parliament |
End of session 5 |
12-04-1957 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
22nd Parliament |
Between sessions 4 and 5 |
1957-01-08 |
1957-01-08 |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
22nd Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1956-08-14 |
1956-11-26 |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
22nd Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1955-07-28 |
1956-01-10 |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
22nd Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1954-06-26 |
1955-01-07 |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
21st Parliament |
End of session 7 |
1953-05-14 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
21st Parliament |
Between sessions 6 and 7 |
1952-11-20 |
1952-11-20 |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
21st Parliament |
Between sessions 5 and 6 |
1951-12-29 |
1952-02-28 |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
21st Parliament |
Between sessions 4 and 5 |
1951-10-09 |
1951-10-09 |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
21st Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1951-01-29 |
1951-01-30 |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
21st Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1950-06-30 |
1950-08-29 |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
21st Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1949-12-10 |
1950-02-16 |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
20th Parliament |
End of session 5 |
1949-04-30 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority[2] |
20th Parliament |
Between sessions 4 and 5 |
1948-06-30 |
1949-01-26 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority* |
20th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1947-07-17 |
1947-12-05 |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority* |
20th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1946-08-31 |
1947-01-30 |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority* |
20th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1945-12-18 |
1946-03-14 |
The Right Hon. Louis St. Laurent |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority* |
19th Parliament |
End of session 6 |
1945-04-16 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
19th Parliament |
Between session 5 and 6 |
1945-01-31 |
1945-03-19 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
19th Parliament |
Between sessions 4 and 5 |
1944-01-26 |
1944-01-27 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
19th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1943-01-27 |
1943-01-28 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
19th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1942-01-21 |
1942-01-22 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
19th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1940-11-05 |
1940-11-07 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
18th Parliament |
Between session 5 and 6 |
1939-09-13 |
1940-01-25 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
18th Parliament |
Between sessions 4 and 5 |
1939-06-03 |
1939-09-07 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
18th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1938-07-01 |
1939-01-12 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
18th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1937-04-10 |
1938-01-27 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
18th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1936-06-23 |
1937-01-14 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
17th Parliament |
End of session 6 |
1935-07-05 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. R.B. Bennett |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative majority |
17th Parliament |
Between sessions 5 and 6 |
1934-07-03 |
1935-01-17 |
The Right Hon. R.B. Bennett |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative majority |
17th Parliament |
Between sessions 4 and 5 |
1933-05-27 |
1934-01-25 |
The Right Hon. R.B. Bennett |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative majority |
17th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1932-05-26 |
1932-10-06 |
The Right Hon. R.B. Bennett |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative majority |
17th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1931-08-03 |
1932-02-04 |
The Right Hon. R.B. Bennett |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative majority |
17th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1930-09-22 |
1931-03-12 |
The Right Hon. R.B. Bennett |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative majority |
16th Parliament |
End of session 4 |
1930-05-30 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority[3] |
16th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1929-06-14 |
1930-02-20 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority* |
16th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1928-06-11 |
1929-02-07 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority* |
16th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1927-04-14 |
1928-01-26 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority* |
15th Parliament |
No Prorogation |
N/a |
N/a |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King and The Right Hon. Arthur Meighen |
Liberal Party of Canada and Conservative Party of Canada |
Liberal minority[4] |
14th Parliament |
End of session 4 |
1925-06-27 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal minority[5] |
14th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1924-07-19 |
1925-02-05 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal minority* |
14th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1923-06-30 |
1924-02-28 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal minority* |
14th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1922-06-27 |
1923-01-31 |
The Right Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal minority* |
13th Parliament |
End of session 5 |
1921-06-04 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Arthur Meighen |
Unionist |
Unionist majority[6] |
13th Parliament |
Between session 4 and 5 |
1920-07-01 |
1921-02-14 |
The Right Hon. Sir Robert Borden |
Unionist |
Unionist majority* |
13th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1919-11-10 |
1920-02-26 |
The Right Hon. Sir Robert Borden |
Unionist |
Unionist majority* |
13th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1919-07-07 |
1919-09-01 |
The Right Hon. Sir Robert Borden |
Unionist |
Unionist majority* |
13th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1918-05-23 |
1919-02-20 |
The Right Hon. Sir Robert Borden |
Unionist |
Unionist majority* |
12th Parliament |
End of session 7 |
1917-09-20 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Sir Robert Borden |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative majority |
12th Parliament |
Between session 6 and 7 |
1916-05-18 |
1917-01-18 |
The Right Hon. Sir Robert Borden |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative majority |
12th Parliament |
Between session 5 and 6 |
1915-04-15 |
1916-01-12 |
The Right Hon. Sir Robert Borden |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative majority |
12th Parliament |
Between session 4 and 5 |
1914-08-22 |
1915-02-04 |
The Right Hon. Sir Robert Borden |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative majority |
12th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1914-06-12 |
1914-08-18 |
The Right Hon. Sir Robert Borden |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative Majority |
12th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1913-06-06 |
1914-01-15 |
The Right Hon. Sir Robert Borden |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative majority |
12th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1912-01-04 |
1912-11-21 |
The Right Hon. Sir Robert Borden |
Conservative Party of Canada |
Conservative majority |
11th Parliament |
End of session 3 |
1911-07-29 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
11th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1910-05-04 |
1910-11017 |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
11th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1909-05-19 |
1909-11-11 |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
10th Parliament |
End of session 4 |
1908-07-20 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
10th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1907-04-27 |
1907-11-28 |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
10th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1906-07-13 |
1906-11-22 |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
10th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1905-07-20 |
1906-03-08 |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
9th Parliament |
End of session 4 |
1904-08-10 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
9th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1903-10-24 |
1904-03-10 |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
9th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1902-05-15 |
1903-03-12 |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
9th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1901-05-23 |
1902-02-13 |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
8th Parliament |
End of session 5 |
1900-07-18 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
8th Parliament |
Between sessions 4 and 5 |
1899-08-11 |
1900-02-01 |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
8th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1898-06-13 |
1899-03-16 |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
8th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1897-06-29 |
1898-02-03 |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
8th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1896-10-05 |
1897-03-25 |
The Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
7th Parliament |
End of session 6 |
1896-04-23 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Sir Charles Tupper |
Liberal-Conservative[7] |
Conservative majority |
7th Parliament |
Between sessions 5 and 6 |
1895-07-22 |
1896-01-02 |
The Hon. Sir Mackenzie Bowell |
Conservative |
Conservative majority |
7th Parliament |
Between sessions 4 and 5 |
1894-07-23 |
1895-04-18 |
The Right Hon. Sir John Thompson |
Liberal-Conservative and Conservative |
Conservative majority |
7th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1893-04-01 |
1894-03-15 |
The Right Hon. Sir John Thompson |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
7th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1892-07-09 |
1893-01-26 |
The Hon. Sir John Abbott |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
7th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1891-09-30 |
1892-02-25 |
The Hon. Sir John Abbott |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
6th Parliament |
End of session 4 |
1890-05-16 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
6th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1889-05-02 |
1890-01-16 |
The Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
6th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1888-05-22 |
1889-01-31 |
The Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
6th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1887-06-23 |
1888-02-23 |
The Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
5th Parliament |
End of session 4 |
1886-06-02 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
5th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1885-07-20 |
1886-02-25 |
Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
5th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1884-04-19 |
1885-01-29 |
The Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
5th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1883-05-25 |
1884-01-17 |
The Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
4th Parliament |
End of session 4 |
1882-05-17 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
4th Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1881-03-21 |
1882-02-09 |
The Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
4th Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1880-05-07 |
1880-12-09 |
The Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
4th Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1879-05-15 |
1880-02-12 |
The Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
3rd Parliament |
End of session 5 |
1878-05-10 |
N/a |
The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
3rd Parliament |
Between sessions 4 and 5 |
1877-04-28 |
1878-02-07 |
The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
3rd Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1876-04-12 |
1877-02-08 |
The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
3rd Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1875-04-08 |
1876-02-10 |
The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
3rd Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1874-05-26 |
1875-02-04 |
The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Liberal majority |
2nd Parliament |
End of session 2 |
1873-11-07 |
N/a |
The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie |
Liberal Party of Canada |
Conservative majority[8] |
2nd Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1873-08-13 |
1873-10-23 |
The Right Hon. Sir John a Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority* |
1st Parliament |
End of session 5 |
1872-06-14 |
N/a |
The Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
1st Parliament |
Between sessions 4 and 5 |
1871-04-14 |
1872-04-11 |
The Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
1st Parliament |
Between sessions 3 and 4 |
1870-05-12 |
1871-02-15 |
The Right Hon. Sir John a Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
1st Parliament |
Between sessions 2 and 3 |
1869-06-22 |
1870-02-15 |
The Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
1st Parliament |
Between sessions 1 and 2 |
1868-05-22 |
1869-04-15 |
The Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald |
Liberal-Conservative |
Conservative majority |
Source: “Appendix 6 Government Ministries and Prime Ministers of Canada Since 1867,”House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Third Edition, 2017; “Appendix 10 General Election Results Since 1867,” House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Third Edition, 2017. “Appendix 11 Parliaments Since 1867 and Number of Sitting Days,” House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Third Edition, 2017.
[1] For Parliaments where no prorogation occurred, the name of the prime minister is nonetheless provided.
[2] Like in 1926, even though the Liberals elected a minority of Members with 118, they were able to form a majority government with the support of Independent Liberal Members and a Liberal Progressive Member.
[3] Even though the Liberals elected a minority of members with 116, the Right Hon. W. L. Mackenzie King was able to form a government regarded as a majority with the support of Progressive Liberal members.
[4] Even though the Conservatives elected more members than the Liberals, the Right Hon. W. L. Mackenzie King, himself defeated in York North, Ontario, remained prime minister with the support of the Progressives. On 26 June, 1926, the prime minister asked the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and order a general election. The Governor General refused and Mr. Mackenzie King resigned. The Governor General subsequently asked the Right Hon. Arthur Meighen to form a government, which he did on 29 June, 1926, with the support of a minority of members. This government retained the confidence of the House for only three days and was defeated on 1 July, 1926. The 15th Parliament was dissolved the following day.
[5] Although the Liberals elected 118 members, the minimum number required to have a majority of seats in the House, in the general election of 6 December, 1921, changes in political affiliation, resignations, by‑elections and deaths in office caused the Liberals to swing between a majority and minority of seats. The government formed by Mr. Mackenzie King was therefore considered the first minority government since 1867. The Liberals were able to govern with the support of the Progressives.
[6] On 12 October, 1917, the Right Hon. Sir Robert Borden formed a cabinet known as the Unionist government, which brought together Conservative, Liberal-Conservative and Liberal members of Parliament who supported conscription during the First World War. These members campaigned under the Unionist banner and were elected in the general election of 17 December, 1917. The results of the 1917 general election led to a majority Unionist government.
[7] Liberal-Conservative and Conservative members always sat together in the House of Commons and, if applicable, in the same government.
[8] On 5 November, 1873, the government led by the Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald resigned as a result of the Canadian Pacific Railway scandal. On 7 November, 1873, the Liberals, led by the Hon. Alexander Mackenzie, formed a government and the second Session was prorogued. The 2nd Parliament was subsequently dissolved on 2 January, 1874.