Why did Stephen Harper prorogue Parliament in 2008?

In December 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper requested that Governor-General Michaëlle Jean prorogue Parliament to avoid an imminent vote of no confidence.1

Following the October 2008 federal election, Harper’s minority government introduced a budget update that included controversial policies, such as the suspension of pay equity programs, the temporary suspension of the federal public sector's right to strike, and the elimination of public financing for political parties. In response, the three principal opposition parties—which collectively held a majority of seats in the House of Commons—threatened to defeat the government through a no-confidence vote and proposed replacing it with a Liberal-NDP coalition government supported by the Bloc Québécois.21

Facing this threat, Harper sought to prorogue Parliament to gain time to introduce a revised budget that could secure support from at least one of the opposition parties, thereby preventing the collapse of his administration. The Governor-General acceded to his request, and when Parliament resumed in January 2009, the government introduced a new budget that included an economic stimulus package, which the Liberal Party ultimately agreed to support.12