The Constitution Act, 1867 states that the approval of the Crown, signified by Royal Assent, is required for any bill to become law after passage by both Houses.
(Source: Précis of Procedure)
Prorogation, like dissolution, abolishes all pending legislation and quashes further committee activity.
The Governor in Council formally calls the election and instructs the Chief Electoral Officer to issue the writs for an election.
CALLING ELECTIONS
Constitutionally, elections must be held every five years, although, by tradition, they are usually held at approximately four-year intervals. The process is set in motion when the Prime Minister requests the Governor General, who represents the Queen as the head of state, to dissolve Parliament and to request the issue of Writs by the Chief Electoral Officer for an election. The Canada Elections Act stipulates that the Writ shall not be issued or dated later than the thirty-sixth day before polling day, making the minimum length of a federal election 36 days. Until 1997, the minimum election period was 47 days, largely because of the requirement for a door-to-door enumeration to be conducted during the campaign. It was argued that this was too lengthy a period of time, particularly in view of modern communications and technology, and contributed to the expense of federal elections. While the minimum period has been shortened, it is unlikely that it could be shortened further. Though other countries, such as the United Kingdom, have shorter minimum election periods, the size of Canada probably necessitates a reasonably long campaign to give party leaders an opportunity to visit different regions and constituencies.
It should also be noted that in the United States, where elections are fixed under the Constitution and no campaign period is specified, candidates for the presidency or other major offices can spend a year or more pursuing election. Suggestions have been made in recent years for federal elections to be held at fixed intervals, or on fixed dates. Others argue, however, that such a system would be inconsistent with a parliamentary system and the confidence convention, whereby the government must retain the confidence of a majority of the House of Commons or tender its resignation.
The Chief Electoral Officer initiates the election process by sending a Writ of Election to each returning officer. Returning officers must then issue a proclamation containing information such as the nomination dates and the polling date. Once the election is called, the Canada Elections Act sets out detailed procedures and provisions. It determines the dates on which major milestone events in the election are to take place, specifies the procedures to be followed with respect to each event, and identifies the officials responsible for the necessary actions.
(Source: Library of Parliament Research Branch)
Dissolution terminates a Parliament and is followed by a general election, the date of which is set by the Governor in Council, with the Constitution Act, 1982 providing that Parliament must sit at least once every 12 months.
Dissolution is proclaimed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. In the absence of such advice, dissolution is automatic following the expiration of a Parliament's maximum five-year term. As a matter of interest, however, this has not yet occurred in Canadian parliamentary history. Parliament may be dissolved at any time. If the House is sitting, and there is not to be a prorogation ceremony, dissolution is usually announced to the House by the Prime Minister or some other Minister of the Government. If the House is not sitting, Parliament is dissolved by a proclamation of the Governor General.
Constitutionally, elections must be held every five years, although, by tradition, they are usually held at approximately four-year intervals.
"The party that wins the largest number of seats in a general election ordinarily forms the Government. Its leader is asked by the Governor General to become Prime Minister. If the government in office before an election comes out of the election without a clear majority, it has the right to meet the new House of Commons and see whether it can get enough support from the minor parties to give it a majority. This happened in 1925-26, 1962 and 1972."
(Source: How Canadians Govern Themselves)