Appendix 11: Parliaments Since 1867 and Number of Sitting Days

The length of a Parliament is calculated from the date set for the return of the writs following a general election to its dissolution by the Governor General by speech or proclamation. The Constitution Act, 1867, s 50, and the Constitution Act, 1982, ss 4(1) and 5, provide for a maximum five-year lifespan for the House of Commons from the date fixed for the return of the writs.1 A Parliament is divided into sessions. A session begins with a Speech from the Throne when Parliament is summoned by proclamation of the Governor General; it ends with a prorogation or dissolution of Parliament. A session is divided into sittings and adjournments. A sitting is a meeting of the House within a session. The Standing Orders of the House of Commons provide times and days for the sittings of the House. A sitting is not necessarily synonymous with a “day”. Some days may contain more than one sitting; some sittings may extend over more than one day.2

Parliament Session Date of General Election3 Date for Return of Writs Date of Opening Last Day on Which the House Sat Date of Prorogation Date of Dissolution Number of Calendar Days Number of Sittings

1st Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

5th Session

07-08-1867
to
20-09-1867

 

 

 

24-09-18674

 

 

 

 

 

 

06-11-1867

15-04-1869

15-02-1870

15-02-1871

11-04-1872

 

22-05-1868

22-06-1869

12-05-1870

14-04-1871

14-06-1872

 

22-05-1868

22-06-1869

12-05-1870

14-04-1871

14-06-1872

 

 

 

 

 

08-07-1872

 

87

51

68

43

47

 

83

49

62

43

46

2nd Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

20-07-1872
to
12-10-1872

03-09-18725

 

 

 

05-03-1873

23-10-1873

 

13-08-1873

07-11-1873

 

13-08-1873

07-11-1873

 

 

02-01-1874

 

60

11

 

59

11

3rd Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

5th Session

22-01-1874

 

 

 

 

 

21-02-18746

 

 

 

 

 

 

26-03-1874

04-02-1875

10-02-1876

08-02-1877

07-02-1878

 

26-05-1874

08-04-1875

12-04-1876

28-04-1877

10-05-1878

 

26-05-1874

08-04-1875

12-04-1876

28-04-1877

10-05-1878

 

 

 

 

 

17-08-1878

 

44

52

48

62

75

 

42

48

46

59

67

4th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

17-09-1878

 

 

 

 

21-11-1878

 

 

 

 

 

13-02-1879

12-02-1880

09-12-1880

09-02-1882

 

15-05-1879

07-05-1880

21-03-1881

17-05-1882

 

15-05-1879

07-05-1880

21-03-1881

17-05-1882

 

 

 

 

18-05-1882

 

68

63

72

73

 

64

57

65

68

5th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

20-06-1882

 

 

 

 

07-08-1882

 

 

 

 

 

08-02-1883

17-01-1884

29-01-1885

25-02-1886

 

25-05-1883

19-04-1884

20-07-1885

02-06-1886

 

25-05-1883

19-04-1884

20-07-1885

02-06-1886

 

 

 

 

15-01-1887

 

79

76

132

72

 

73

67

119

65

6th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

22-02-1887

 

 

 

 

07-04-1887

 

 

 

 

 

13-04-1887

23-02-1888

31-01-1889

16-01-1890

 

23-06-1887

22-05-1888

02-05-1889

16-05-1890

 

23-06-1887

22-05-1888

02-05-1889

16-05-1890

 

 

 

 

03-02-1891

 

50

66

68

91

 

49

61

65

81

7th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

5th Session

6th Session

05-03-1891

 

 

 

 

 

 

25-04-1891

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29-04-1891

25-02-1892

26-01-1893

15-03-1894

18-04-1895

02-01-1896

 

30-09-1891

09-07-1892

01-04-1893

23-07-1894

22-07-1895

23-04-1896

 

30-09-1891

09-07-1892

01-04-1893

23-07-1894

22-07-1895

23-04-1896

 

 

 

 

 

 

24-04-1896

 

106

93

49

89

68

86

 

102

87

47

89

68

73

8th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

5th Session

23-06-1896

 

 

 

 

 

13-07-1896

 

 

 

 

 

 

19-08-1896

25-03-1897

03-02-1898

16-03-1899

01-02-1900

 

05-10-1896

29-06-1897

13-06-1898

11-08-1899

18-07-1900

 

05-10-1896

29-06-1897

13-06-1898

11-08-1899

18-07-1900

 

 

 

 

 

09-10-1900

 

37

70

92

107

121

 

34

75

97

101

117

9th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

07-11-1900

 

 

 

 

05-12-1900

 

 

 

 

 

06-02-1901

13-02-1902

12-03-1903

>10-03-1904

 

23-05-1901

15-05-1902

24-10-1903

>10-08-1904

 

23-05-1901

15-05-1902

24-10-1903

10-08-1904

 

 

 

 

29-09-1904

 

76

65

162

106

 

73

62

155

103

10th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

03-11-1904

 

 

 

 

15-12-1904

 

 

 

 

 

11-01-1905

08-03-1906

22-11-1906

28-11-1907

 

20-07-1905

13-07-1906

27-04-1907

20-07-1908

 

20-07-1905

13-07-1906

27-04-1907

20-07-1908

 

 

 

 

17-09-1908

 

132

90

97

159

 

128

88

94

148

11th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

26-10-1908

 

 

 

03-12-1908

 

 

 

 

20-01-1909

11-11-1909

17-11-1910

 

19-05-1909

04-05-1910

28-07-1911

 

19-05-1909

04-05-1910

29-07-1911

 

 

 

29-07-1911

 

86

106

122

 

84

102

117

12th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

5th Session

6th Session

7th Session

21-09-1911

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

07-10-1911

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15-11-1911

21-11-1912

15-01-1914

18-08-1914

04-02-1915

12-01-1916

18-01-1917

 

01-04-1912

06-06-1913

12-06-1914

22-08-1914

15-04-1915

18-05-1916

20-09-1917

 

01-04-1912

06-06-1913

12-06-1914

22-08-1914

15-04-1915

18-05-1916

20-09-1917

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

06-10-1917

 

80

125

106

5

51

90

136

 

75

121

103

5

51

88

135

13th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

5th Session

17-12-1917

 

 

 

 

 

27-02-1918

 

 

 

 

 

 

18-03-1918

20-02-1919

01-09-1919

26-02-1920

14-02-1921

 

23-05-1918

07-07-1919

10-11-1919

01-07-1920

04-06-1921

 

23-05-1918

07-07-1919

10-11-1919

01-07-1920

04-06-1921

 

 

 

 

 

04-10-1921

 

51

95

51

89

84

 

47

93

50

86

79

14th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

06-12-1921

 

 

 

 

14-01-1922

 

 

 

 

 

08-03-1922

31-01-1923

28-02-1924

05-02-1925

 

27-06-1922

30-06-1923

19-07-1924

27-06-1925

 

27-06-1922

30-06-1923

19-07-1924

27-06-1925

 

 

 

 

05-09-1925

 

75

98

97

101

 

75

98

95

98

15th Parliament

1st Session

29-10-1925

 

07-12-1925

 

 

07-01-1926

 

01-07-1926

 

02-07-1926

 

115

 

111

16th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

14-09-1926

 

 

 

 

02-11-1926

 

 

 

 

 

09-12-1926

26-01-1928

07-02-1929

20-02-1930

 

14-04-1927

11-06-1928

14-06-1929

30-05-1930

 

14-04-1927

11-06-1928

14-06-1929

30-05-1930

 

 

 

 

30-05-1930

 

54

94

83

62

 

54

93

83

62

17th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

5th Session

6th Session

28-07-1930

 

 

 

 

 

 

18-08-1930

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

08-09-1930

12-03-1931

04-02-1932

06-10-1932

25-01-1934

17-01-1935

 

22-09-1930

03-08-1931

26-05-1932

27-05-1933

03-07-1934

05-07-1935

 

22-09-1930

03-08-1931

26-05-1932

27-05-1933

03-07-1934

05-07-1935

 

 

 

 

 

 

14-08-1935

12

96

78

119

105

97

 

13

96

78

119

105

97

18th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

5th Session

6th Session

14-10-1935

 

 

 

 

 

 

09-11-1935

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

06-02-1936

14-01-1937

27-01-1938

12-01-1939

07-09-1939

25-01-1940

 

23-06-1936

10-04-1937

01-07-1938

03-06-1939

13-09-1939

25-01-1940

 

23-06-1936

10-04-1937

01-07-1938

03-06-1939

13-09-1939

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25-01-1940

 

91

62

102

103

6

1

 

91

62

102

103

6

1

19th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

5th Session

6th Session

26-03-1940

 

 

 

 

 

 

17-04-1940

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16-05-1940

07-11-1940

22-01-1942

28-01-1943

27-01-1944

19-03-1945

 

05-11-1940

21-01-1942

27-01-1943

26-01-1944

31-01-1945

16-04-1945

 

05-11-1940

21-01-1942

27-01-1943

26-01-1944

31-01-1945

16-04-1945

 

 

 

 

 

 

16-04-1945

 

61

105

124

120

138

19

 

61

105

124

120

136

19

20th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

5th Session

11-06-1945

 

 

 

 

 

09-08-1945

 

 

 

 

 

 

06-09-1945

14-03-1946

30-01-1947

05-12-1947

26-01-1949

 

18-12-1945

31-08-1946

17-07-1947

30-06-1948

30-04-1949

 

18-12-1945

31-08-1946

17-07-1947

30-06-1948

30-04-1949

 

 

 

 

 

30-04-1949

 

76

118

115

119

59

 

76

118

115

119

59

21st Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

5th Session

6th Session

7th Session

27-06-1949

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25-08-1949

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15-09-1949

16-02-1950

29-08-1950

30-01-1951

09-10-1951

28-02-1952

20-11-1952

 

10-12-1949

30-06-1950

29-01-1951

09-10-1951

29-12-1951

20-11-1952

14-05-1953

 

10-12-1949

30-06-1950

29-01-1951

09-10-1951

29-12-1951

20-11-1952

14-05-1953

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13-06-1953

 

64

90

17

104

56

87

108

 

64

90

17

104

56

87

108

22nd Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

5th Session

10-08-1953

 

 

 

 

 

08-10-1953

 

 

 

 

 

 

12-11-1953

07-01-1955

10-01-1956

26-11-1956

08-01-1957

 

26-06-1954

28-07-1955

14-08-1956

08-01-1957

12-04-1957

 

26-06-1954

28-07-1955

14-08-1956

08-01-1957

12-04-1957

 

 

 

 

 

12-04-1957

 

139

140

153

5

71

 

139

140

152

5

71

23rd Parliament

1st Session

10-06-1957

 

08-08-1957

 

 

14-10-1957

 

01-02-1958

 

01-02-1958

 

78

 

78

24th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

5th Session

31-03-1958

 

 

 

 

 

30-04-1958

 

 

 

 

 

 

12-05-1958

15-01-1959

14-01-1960

17-11-1960

18-01-1962

 

06-09-1958

18-07-1959

10-08-1960

29-09-1961

18-04-1962

 

06-09-1958

18-07-1959

10-08-1960

29-09-1961

 

 

 

 

 

 

19-04-1962

 

93

127

146

175

65

 

93

127

146

174

65

25th Parliament

1st Session

18-06-1962

 

18-07-1962

 

 

27-09-1962

 

05-02-1963

 

06-02-1963

 

72

 

72

26th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

08-04-1963

 

 

 

08-05-1963

 

 

 

 

16-05-1963

18-02-1964

05-04-1965

 

21-12-1963

02-04-1965

30-06-1965

 

21-12-1963

03-04-1965

 

 

 

 

08-09-1965

 

117

248

53

 

117

248

53

27th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

08-11-1965

 

09-12-1965

 

 

18-01-1966

08-05-1967

 

08-05-1967

23-04-1968

 

08-05-1967

 

 

 

23-04-1968

 

253

155

 

250

155

28th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

25-06-1968

 

 

 

 

25-07-1968

 

 

 

 

 

12-09-1968

23-10-1969

08-10-1970

17-02-1972

 

22-10-1969

07-10-1970

16-02-1972

01-09-1972

 

22-10-1969

07-10-1970

16-02-1972

 

 

 

 

 

01-09-1972

 

198

138

242

91

 

198

138

242

91

29th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

30-10-1972

 

 

20-11-1972

 

 

 

04-01-1973

27-02-1974

 

26-02-1974

08-05-1974

 

26-02-1974

 

 

 

09-05-1974

 

207

50

 

206

50

30th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

4th Session

08-07-1974

 

 

 

 

31-07-1974

 

 

 

 

 

30-09-1974

12-10-1976

18-10-1977

11-10-1978

 

12-10-1976

17-10-1977

10-10-1978

26-03-1979

 

12-10-1976

17-10-1977

10-10-1978

 

 

 

 

 

26-03-1979

 

343

176

151

98

 

343

175

151

98

31st Parliament

1st Session

22-05-1979

 

11-06-1979

 

 

09-10-1979

 

14-12-1979

 

14-12-1979

 

49

 

49

32nd Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

18-02-1980

 

 

10-03-1980

 

 

 

14-04-1980

07-12-1983

 

30-11-1983

29-06-1984

 

30-11-1983

 

 

 

09-07-1984

 

611

116

 

591

116

33rd Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

04-09-1984

 

 

24-09-1984

 

 

 

05-11-1984

30-09-1986

 

24-07-1986

30-09-1988

 

28-08-1986

 

 

 

01-10-1988

 

308

390

 

308

389

34th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

21-11-1988

 

 

 

12-12-1988

 

 

 

 

12-12-1988

03-04-1989

13-05-1991

 

30-12-1988

08-05-1991

23-06-1993

 

28-02-1989

12-05-1991

 

 

 

 

08-09-1993

 

12

256

269

 

11

249

269

35th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

25-10-1993

 

 

15-11-1993

 

 

 

17-01-1994

27-02-1996

 

02-02-1996

25-04-1997

 

02-02-1996

 

 

 

27-04-1997

 

278

164

 

278

164

36th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

02-06-1997

 

 

23-06-1997

 

 

 

22-09-1997

12-10-1999

 

11-06-1999

20-10-2000

 

18-09-1999

 

 

 

22-10-2000

 

243

136

 

243

133

37th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

27-11-2000

 

 

 

18-12-2000

 

 

 

 

29-01-2001

30-09-2002

02-02-2004

 

21-06-2002

07-11-2003

14-05-2004

 

16-09-2002

12-11-2003

 

 

 

 

23-05-2004

 

211

153

55

 

211

153

55

38th Parliament

1st Session

28-06-2004

 

19-07-2004

 

 

04-10-2004

 

28-11-2005

 

29-11-2005

 

159

 

159

39th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

23-01-2006

 

 

13-02-2006

 

 

 

03-04-2006

16-10-2007

 

20-06-2007

20-06-2008

 

14-09-2007

 

 

 

07-09-2008

 

175

117

 

175

117

40th Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

14-10-2008

 

 

 

04-11-2008

 

 

 

 

18-11-2008

26-01-2009

03-03-2010

 

04-12-2008

10-12-2009

25-03-2011

 

04-12-2008

30-12-2009

 

 

 

 

26-03-2011

 

13

128

149

 

13

128

149

41st Parliament

1st Session

2nd Session

02-05-2011

 

 

23-05-2011

 

 

 

02-06-2011

16-10-2013

 

18-06-2013

19-06-2015

 

13-09-2013

 

 

 

02-08-2015

 

275

235

 

272

235

42nd Parliament

1st Session

19-10-2015

 

09-11-2015

 

 

03-12-2015