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elections, it could be considered a violation of section 4. Although municipalities are not mentioned by section 4, they are under the control of the provinces, which are bound by section 4. However, the court refused to accept that just because the municipal council was under the control of the legislative assembly, it could be considered a legislative assembly itself and was thus bound by section 4. The municipal council would rather be a creation of the legislature.
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454:... no House of Commons shall continue for more than five years from the day of the return of the Writs for choosing the House: provided, however, that a House of Commons may in time of real or apprehended war, invasion or insurrection be continued by the Parliament of Canada if such continuation is not opposed by the votes of more than one-third of the members of such House.
378:(2) In time of real or apprehended war, invasion or insurrection, a House of Commons may be continued by Parliament and a legislative assembly may be continued by the legislature beyond five years if such continuation is not opposed by the votes of more than one-third of the members of the House of Commons or the legislative assembly, as the case may be.
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are held, work on proposed laws and agendas can be continued when the new municipal council meets. This is unusual, as at the federal and provincial level such legislation would expire and would have to be reintroduced. As it was argued the municipal council thus never ceases to operate even for
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would require an election to be called approximately nine months after that (at the latest), in order that
Parliament (or the legislature) could fulfil its obligation of sitting at least once every twelve months. This interpretation is not universally accepted, but in any event the point is
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could unilaterally amend. One rule that
Parliament could not unilaterally amend was that the House of Commons could not last for more than five years without an election, unless war or rebellion caused two-thirds or more of the House to believe a longer term would be necessary. It read,
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These sections have not been controversial. Some questions have arisen as to how long a government might be able to continue to operate after the five‑year life of the
Parliament had expired; however, these questions have been only
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could theoretically allow almost six years between elections: under subsection 4(1) the House of
Commons (or legislative assembly) would expire five years from the return of the writs of the previous election, and then
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481:. Before and after section 4, the prime minister may advise the governor general to call an election early simply because the prime minister feels it is an opportune time, or because they may be faced with a
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50. Every House of
Commons shall continue for Five Years from the Day of the Return of the Writs for choosing the House (subject to be sooner dissolved by the Governor General), and no longer.
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theoretical since no prime minister or premier has neglected or refused to request a dissolution of his or her respective
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4(1) No House of
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Election Law in Canada: The Law and
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603:. Vol. I. Toronto and Vancouver: Butterworths. pp. 164–165.
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as the official who may call an election early (and section 4 of the
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2003 Student Ed. Scarborough, Ontario: Thomson Canada Limited, 2003.
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Atkins et al. v. City of Calgary (1994), 148 A.R. 81 (Alta. Q.B.).
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Fundamental Freedoms: The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
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1321:Conventions
975:, 1867–1982
861:Section 125
856:Section 121
258:Application
210:Enforcement
1665:Categories
1018:Patriation
905:Section 92
872:Section 91
632:2011-04-14
549:References
383:Background
338:democratic
912:Licensing
500:section 5
358:rebellion
328:Section 4
321:Elections
1643:Politics
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1066:Preamble
851:Preamble
599:(1987).
274:Citation
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522:, when
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1631:Canada
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583:Notes
427:(the
1151:16.1
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368:Text
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