In the Westminster parliamentary system a snap election is an early election called when the Prime Minister (or Premier) dissolves the legislature mid-way in a government's mandate.

In Canada, a snap election also refers to an election called when no one expects it, usually to capitalize on an unique electoral opportunity or to decide a pressing issue. The most notable case is the Canadian federal election, 1958 where Prime Minister John Diefenbaker called an election just nine months after the previous one and transformed his minority government into the largest majority in the history of Canada.

Snap Elections in Canada

• Canadian federal election, 1911
  • Issues: Reciprocity with the United States; the Naval Bill
  • Result: Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier's Liberals are defeated.

• Canadian federal election, 1917
  • Issue: Conscription Crisis of 1917.
  • Result: Prime Minister Robert Borden's Unionists, an alliance of pro-conscription politicians, win a massive majority.

• Canadian federal election, 1958
  • Reason: Obtain a majority government.
  • Result: Prime Minster John Diefenbaker's Progressive Conservatives win the largest majority ever in Canada.

• Canadian federal election, 1988
  • Issue: Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.
  • Result: Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's Progressive Conservatives win a reduced majority.

• Ontario general election, 1990
  • Reason: Favourable opinion polls.
  • Result: Ontario Premier David Peterson's Liberals are massively defeated.