Government and Canada's 40th Parliament : Gouvernement du Canada et la 40e législature

The returning officer for each riding validates the results for that riding within 7 days of voting day (subject to adjournments if all the ballot boxes have not been received); the winner is declared on the 7th day following the validation when the returning officer fills in the information on the back of the writ. [...] However, the amendments did not affect the power of the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call for a general election, nor did they affect the prerogative of the Prime Minister to tender advice to the Governor General on those matters. [...] Traditionally, the leader of the party with the most seats in the House is most likely to enjoy the confidence of the House, but this need not always be true. [...] From the time the Governor General appoints a Prime Minister until that Prime Minister loses the confidence of the House or is defeated in an election, the Governor General must generally follow the advice of the Prime Minister. [...] Another possibility is the date on which the Chief Electoral Officer sends to the Clerk of the House of Commons the certified list of members elected to serve in the House of Commons.