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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.