Parliament of Canada Act

Marginal note:Issuance of election writ

• 31 (1) Where a vacancy occurs in the House of Commons, a writ shall be issued between the 11th day and the 180th day after the receipt by the Chief Electoral Officer of the warrant for the issue of a writ for the election of a member of the House.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (1.1) Despite subsection (1), no writ for the election of a member of the House shall be issued if the vacancy occurs in the House of Commons less than nine months before the date fixed under subsection 56.1(2) of the Canada Elections Act for the holding of a general election.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (2) This section does not apply where the vacancy in respect of which the warrant has issued occurs within six months of the expiration of the time limited for the duration of the House of Commons.

• Marginal note:Dissolution after issue of writ

  (3) If Parliament is dissolved after the issue of a writ in accordance with this section, the writ shall thereupon be deemed to have been superseded and withdrawn.