After Trudeaus resignation, heres when Canadians can expect an election [Video]

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to prorogue Parliament until March 24 – allowing time for the Liberal Party to choose a new leader – sets the stage for a confidence vote shortly after, which appears likely to trigger a spring election campaign.

The return date is just a few days before a key parliamentary deadline of March 26, when the House of Commons is required to vote on what is called interim supply, which provides federal departments with the base funding they need to operate over the first three months of the fiscal year.

Votes on spending items such as supply are considered automatic confidence votes, meaning a government defeat would trigger a federal election.

“There will be confidence votes in March, passing of supply, that will allow Parliament to weigh in on confidence in a way that is entirely in keeping with all the principles of democracy and the workings of our strong institutions,” Mr. Trudeau told …