[goldstategop]

The Prime Minister can ask the Governor General to drop the writ any time he thinks its advantageous to his party's prospects of winning. A lot of Canadians think calling a snap election is an unfair surprise and elections should be held on a fixed basis and not just when its convenient for the ruling party. Ontario Province has already adopted fixed elections.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Heartofsong83]

British Columbia also has fixed election dates.

I think the fixed date should be nationally set and used for all levels of government; my preferred date would be the 2nd Monday in May (to allow for a fresh fall session) or the 3rd Monday in November (to allow a fall of campaigning before returning in January, and to keep it off the US election week and Remembrance Day)