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108-558: The Building is located just south of the Parliament buildings at the intersection of Wellington Street and Bank Street with its southern face on Sparks Street . It remained the home of Met Life until 1970 when the company moved to a new building to the south. It was bought by the federal government, and used as offices and for a time the home of the Canadian Postal Museum . In 1984 a shortage of office space for

216-460: A British law was necessary, though Canada's consent was required. The Parliament of Canada was granted limited power to amend the constitution by a British Act of Parliament in 1949, but it was not permitted to affect the powers of provincial governments, the official positions of the English and French languages, rights of any class of persons with respect to schools, or the maximum five-year term of

324-411: A concern for health in the workplace. In 2010, the building was closed for extensive rehabilitation work, which included asbestos abatement, seismic reinforcement, and the modernization of its interior spaces and systems to accommodate MP Offices, committee rooms and a library. Historic preservation work included the conservation and restoration of the building's significant heritage features, such as

432-526: A confidence vote but was allowed to remain in power with the mutual consent of the leaders of the other parties. In practice, the House of Commons' scrutiny of the government is quite weak in comparison to the equivalent chamber in other countries using the Westminster system . With the plurality voting system used in parliamentary elections tending to provide the governing party with a large majority, and

540-454: A general election typically follows. Subject to the governor general's discretion, general elections are held four years after the previous on the third Monday in October or, on the recommendation of the chief electoral officer , the following Tuesday or Monday. The governor general may dissolve Parliament and call a general election outside of these fixed dates, conventionally on the advice of

648-510: A higher population. The governor still held significant personal influence over Canadian affairs until 1848, when responsible government was implemented in Canada. The actual site of Parliament shifted on a regular basis: From 1841 to 1844, it sat in Kingston , where the present Kingston General Hospital now stands; from 1844 until the 1849 fire that destroyed the building , the legislature

756-468: A majority vote by the lower house. The motion passed on March 17, 2010, by a vote of 139 to 135, but motions are not binding. Five days later, Liberal, Bloc Québécois , and NDP MPs used their majority in the Commons committee in charge of MPs' privilege and rules to approve an official review of the convention of prorogation, which could require a prime minister to seek approval from the House before asking

864-404: A member of either house cannot be sued for slander based on words uttered in the course of parliamentary proceedings, the only restraint on debate being set by the standing orders of each house. Further, MPs and senators are immune to arrest in civil (but not criminal) cases, from jury service and attendance in courts as witnesses. They may, however, be disciplined by their colleagues for breach of

972-422: A party system that gives leaders strict control over their caucus (to the point that MPs may be expelled from their parties for voting against the instructions of party leaders), there is often limited need to compromise with other parties. Additionally, Canada has fewer MPs, a higher turnover rate of MPs after each election, and an Americanized system for selecting political party leaders, leaving them accountable to

1080-420: A plurality of voters in each of the country's federal electoral districts , or ridings. To run for one of the 338 seats in the lower house , an individual must be at least 18 years old. Each member holds office until Parliament is dissolved, after which they may seek re-election. The ridings are regularly reorganized according to the results of each decennial national census ; however, the "senatorial clause" of

1188-496: A series of stages in each chamber, beginning with the first reading . It is not, however, until the bill's second reading that the general principles of the proposed law are debated; though rejection is a possibility, such is not common for government bills. Next, the bill is sent by the house where it is being debated to one of several committees. The Standing Orders outline the general mandate for all committees, allowing them to review: bills as they pertain to relevant departments;

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1296-521: A session; and differs from a complete dissolution of parliament , which ends both the session and the entire parliament, requiring an election for the House of Commons in the bicameral federal parliament and the singular legislative chamber of the unicameral provincial parliaments. In the Canadian parliamentary system, the legislature is typically prorogued upon the completion of the agenda set forth in

1404-724: A substantial amount of time in their home ridings . Only when vast amounts of legislation needed to be debated and passed during the Second World War did parliament begin to sit for longer sessions. This was followed by an expansion of the government's role in Canadian life through the 1950s and 1960s, requiring even shorter prorogations. Additionally, the advent of modern communication tools and air travel rendered long prorogations even more unnecessary; Members of Parliament may contact their home ridings whenever they want and can visit their home ridings during adjournments. Today, sessions of parliament still last about one year each, but

1512-429: A tie. The speaker customarily votes in favour of the status quo . The constitution establishes the quorums to be 15 senators in the upper house and 20 members in the lower house, the speaker of each body being counted within the tally. Voting can thus take three possible forms: whenever possible, leaving the matter open for future consideration and allowing for further discussion by the house; when no further discussion

1620-472: A way that opposes the will of the democratically elected house. The federal government consists of the monarch (represented by the governor general)-in-council , which is a collection of ministers of the Crown appointed by the governor general to direct the use of executive powers . Per the tenets of responsible government , these individuals are almost always drawn from Parliament, and are predominantly from

1728-533: Is defined by the Constitution Act, 1867 , and various conventions . Neither he nor his viceroy, however, participates in the legislative process save for signifying the King's approval to a bill passed by both houses of Parliament, known as the granting of Royal Assent , which is necessary for a bill to be enacted as law. All federal bills thus begin with the phrase "Now, therefore, His Majesty, by and with

1836-462: Is demanded by members—requiring at least two in the Senate and five in the House of Commons. Members of both houses vote by rising in their places to be counted; the speaker of the Senate is permitted to vote on a motion or bill—though does so irregularly, in the interest of impartiality—and, if there is no majority, the motion is defeated. In the Commons, however, the speaker cannot vote, unless to break

1944-570: Is not with the governor general. The problem is with the Prime Minister of Canada." These proposals echoed the arrangements within the Long Parliament of England , between 1640 and 1648, which could only be dissolved with the agreement of its members. The NDP presented a motion to the House of Commons requesting the prime minister not advise the governor general to prorogue parliament for more than seven days unless approved by

2052-410: Is possible, taking into account that the matter could somehow be brought back in future and be decided by a majority in the house; or, leaving a bill in its existing form rather than having it amended. For example, during the vote on the 2005 budget , which was considered a vote of confidence , the speaker of the House of Commons cast the tie-breaking vote during the second reading , moving in favour of

2160-572: Is the federal legislature of Canada , seated at Parliament Hill in Ottawa , and is composed of three parts: the King , the Senate , and the House of Commons . By constitutional convention , the House of Commons is dominant, with the Senate rarely opposing its will. The Senate reviews legislation from a less partisan standpoint and may initiate certain bills. The monarch or his representative, normally

2268-465: Is the 44th Parliament since Confederation in 1867. The official languages of the Parliament are English and French . The body consists of the King of Canada , represented by a viceroy , the governor general ; an upper house , the Senate ; and a lower house , the House of Commons . Each element has its own officers and organization. Each has a distinct role, but work in conjunction within

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2376-593: The Reform Act and resulting changes to the Parliament of Canada Act , in 2015, were a response to this trend and an attempt to increase the power and independence of MPs. Parliament possesses a number of privileges, collectively and accordingly known as parliamentary privilege , each house being the guardian and administrator of its own set of rights. Parliament itself determines the extent of parliamentary privilege, each house overseeing its own affairs, but

2484-496: The Constitution Act, 1867 guarantees each province at least as many MPs as it has senators, and the "grandfather clause" permits each province as many MPs as it had in either 1976 or 1985. The existence of this legislation has pushed the size of the House of Commons above the required minimum of 282 seats. The powers of the Parliament of Canada are limited by the constitution, which divides legislative abilities between

2592-594: The Speech from the Throne and remains in recess until the monarch or governor general , in the federal sphere, or lieutenant governor , in a province, summons parliamentarians. From 2008 to present, prorogation has been the subject of discussion among academics, the Canadian public, and their political representatives. It is, according to the constitution of Canada , the Canadian monarch's royal prerogative to prorogue

2700-550: The Supreme Court of Canada , and the amending formulas themselves. 45°25′31″N 75°42′00″W  /  45.42521°N 75.70011°W  / 45.42521; -75.70011 Prorogation in Canada Prorogation is the end of a parliamentary session in the Parliament of Canada and the parliaments of its provinces and territories. It differs from a recess or adjournment , which do not end

2808-709: The War of 1812 , American troops set fire to the buildings of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada in York (now Toronto ). In 1841, the British government united the two Canadas into the Province of Canada , with a single legislature composed of, again, an assembly, council, and governor general; the 84 members of the lower chamber were equally divided among the two former provinces, though Lower Canada had

2916-414: The governor general , provides royal assent to make bills into law. The governor general, on behalf of the monarch, summons and appoints the 105 senators on the advice of the prime minister , while each of the 338 members of the House of Commons – called members of Parliament (MPs) – represents an electoral district , commonly referred to as a riding , and are elected by Canadian voters residing in

3024-497: The legislative process . This format was inherited from the United Kingdom and is a near-identical copy of the Parliament at Westminster , the greatest differences stemming from situations unique to Canada, such as the impermanent nature of the monarch's residency in the country and the lack of a peerage to form the upper chamber. Only those who sit in the House of Commons are usually called members of Parliament (MPs);

3132-407: The notwithstanding clause . Such clause, however, has never been used by the federal parliament, though it has been employed by some provincial legislatures. Laws violating any part of the constitution are invalid and may be ruled unconstitutional by the courts . Each of Parliament's two chambers is presided over by a speaker ; that for the Senate is a member appointed by the governor general on

3240-508: The opposition Liberal and New Democratic parties formed a coalition with the support of the Bloc Québécois party and threatened to vote non-confidence in the sitting minority government , precipitating a parliamentary dispute . The Governor General, however, did not grant her prime minister's request until after two hours of consultation with various constitutional experts. Upon the end of her tenure as vicereine, Jean revealed to

3348-507: The speaker of that house. They are sometimes referred to as Agents of Parliament . Another key official is the parliamentary librarian , a position established in 1871 under the Library of Parliament Act , charged with directing the Library of Parliament . The Constitution Act, 1867 , outlines that the governor general alone is responsible for summoning Parliament, though it remains the monarch's prerogative to prorogue and dissolve

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3456-539: The "newest" province, although "oldest" English settlement ), is represented by six senators. Since 1975 each of Canada's territories is represented by 1 senator—the Northwest Territories , Yukon , and (since its formation in 1999) Nunavut . An additional 4 or 8 senators may be appointed by the governor general, provided the approval of the King is secured and the four divisions are equally represented. This power has been employed once since 1867: to ensure

3564-632: The Afghan detainees affair . In October 2012, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario David Onley , on the advice of Premier Dalton McGuinty , who headed a minority government, prorogued the Ontario Legislature , with McGuinty announcing, at the same time, he would, after a new party leader was selected, resign both as premier and leader of the Ontario Liberal Party . Liberal House Leader John Milloy later stated that prorogation

3672-478: The Cabinet had become eclipsed by prime ministerial power. Thus, defeats of majority governments on issues of confidence are very rare. In contrast, a minority government is more volatile, and is more likely to fall due to loss of confidence. The last prime ministers to lose confidence votes were Stephen Harper in 2011, Paul Martin in 2005 and Joe Clark in 1979, all involving minority governments. The passage of

3780-539: The Canadian Press that the delay was partly to "send a message—and for people to understand that this warranted reflection". It was also at the same time said by Peter H. Russell , one of those from whom Jean sought advice, that Canadians ought not regard as an automatic rubber stamp the Governor General's decision to accept Harper's advice concerning prorogation; Russell disclosed that Jean granted

3888-580: The Commons' right to deny entry to anyone, including even the monarch (but with an exception for royal messengers). Once the MPs are gathered behind the Bar of the Senate—save for the prime minister, the only MP permitted into the Senate proper to sit near the throne dais—the House of Commons speaker presents to the monarch or governor general, and formally claims the rights and privileges of the House of Commons; and then

3996-586: The Constitution): 24 for Ontario , 24 for Quebec , 24 for the Maritimes (10 for Nova Scotia , 10 for New Brunswick , and four for Prince Edward Island ), and 24 for the Western provinces (six each for Manitoba , British Columbia , Saskatchewan , and Alberta ). Additionally, senators are appointed from two geographic areas not part of any senatorial division. Newfoundland and Labrador (since 1949

4104-558: The Earl of Dufferin to prorogue parliament in order to stop the work of a committee investigating Macdonald's involvement in the Pacific Scandal . While the Governor General did reluctantly accept advice to prorogue parliament, he insisted that the prorogation be limited to a period of ten weeks, and that a commission be appointed to continue the hearings, which would report to parliament when it reconvened. When parliament returned and

4212-415: The House of Commons establishing legislative committees, the chair of the latter being appointed by the speaker of the House of Commons, and is normally one of his deputies. Whichever committee is used, any amendments proposed by the committee are considered by the whole house in the report stage. Furthermore, additional amendments not proposed by the committee may also be made. After the report stage (or, if

4320-444: The House of Commons to do so before adjourning. The new parliamentary session is marked by the opening of Parliament , a ceremony where a range of topics can be addressed in a Speech From the Throne given by the monarch, the governor general, or a royal delegate. The usher of the black rod invites MPs to these events, knocking on the doors of the lower house that have been slammed shut —a symbolic arrangement designed to illustrate

4428-463: The House of Commons, of which most are put forward by ministers of the Crown , making them government bills, as opposed to private members' bills or private senators' bills, which are launched by MPs and senators, respectively, who are not in cabinet. Draft legislation may also be categorized as public bills, if they apply to the general public, or private bills , if they concern a particular person or limited group of people. Each bill then goes through

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4536-408: The House of Commons, the only body to which ministers are held accountable, typically during Question Period , wherein ministers are obliged to answer questions posed by members of the opposition. Hence, the person who can command the confidence of the lower chamber—usually the leader of the party with the most seats therein—is typically appointed as prime minister. Should that person not hold a seat in

4644-440: The House of Commons, the prime minister will, by convention, seek election to one at the earliest possible opportunity; frequently, in such situations, a junior member of Parliament who holds a safe seat will resign to allow the prime minister to run for that riding in a by-election . If no party holds a majority, it is customary for the governor general to summon a minority government or coalition government , depending on which

4752-444: The House of Commons. A parliamentary session lasts until a prorogation, after which, without ceremony in recent years, one or both chambers of the legislature cease all legislative business until the governor general or lieutenant governor issues a proclamation calling for a new session to begin. For the federal parliament, except for the election of a speaker for the House of Commons and his or her claiming of that house's privileges,

4860-588: The MPs resulted in some of them being moved to the building. This was the first time MPs had been housed outside of Parliament Hill. Since its rehabilitation in 2016, the building is occupied by the House of Commons and serves several parliamentary functions. The Wellington Building (formerly the Metropolitan Life Assurance Building) was built in 1925–27 to designs by D. Everett Waid, architect, of New York; J.A. Ewart, Ottawa, associated architect. In 1957-58 two storeys were added to

4968-709: The Parliament of the United Kingdom to enact a constitutional amendment in 1982, in the form of the Canada Act 1982 which included the Constitution Act, 1982 . This legislation terminated the power of the British Parliament's ability to legislate for Canada and the authority to amend the constitution was transferred to the Canadian House of Commons, the Senate, and the provincial legislative assemblies, acting jointly. Most amendments require

5076-685: The Senate responsible for security in that chamber, as well as for protocol, administrative, and logistical details of important events taking place on Parliament Hill, such as the Speech from the Throne , Royal Assent ceremonies, state funerals , or the investiture of a new governor general. Other officers of Parliament include the auditor general , chief electoral officer , official languages commissioner , privacy commissioner , information commissioner , conflict of interest and ethics commissioner , public sector integrity commissioner , and commissioner of lobbying . These individuals are appointed by either one or both houses, to which they report through

5184-650: The Senate was that used in the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada after 1849, while that of the House of Commons was inherited from the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada , first used in 1845. Following the burning of the Centre Block on 3 February 1916, the City of London , England, donated a replacement, which is still used today. The temporary mace, made of wood, and used until

5292-480: The Senate. Members of the two houses of Parliament must also express their loyalty to the sovereign and defer to his authority, as the Oath of Allegiance must be sworn by all new parliamentarians before they may take their seats. Further, the official opposition is formally called His Majesty's Loyal Opposition , to signify that, though they may be opposed to the incumbent Cabinet's policies, they remain dedicated to

5400-420: The ability of the prime minister to advise the prorogation of parliament, his plan requiring the consent of the House of Commons of Canada , following ten days written notice and debate. Ignatieff brushed off questions about the constitutionality of the proposed changes, saying if new rules are established, governors general "will respect those constitutional conventions" as they always have, adding: "The problem

5508-649: The abuse of the power of prorogation and its negative effect on democracy in Canada. However, the Federal Court of Canada , in a 2009 ruling, found that tampering with the Crown's prerogatives could not be done via normal legislation, requiring instead an amendment to the constitution pursuant to Section 41 of the Constitution Act, 1982 . Christopher Moore opined in Canada's History that "no great web of new legislation or constitutional procedure

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5616-471: The advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows ..." and, as such, the Crown is immune from acts of Parliament unless expressed otherwise in the act itself. The governor general will normally perform the task of granting Royal Assent, though the monarch may also do so, at the request of either the Cabinet or the viceroy, who may defer assent to the sovereign as per

5724-426: The advice of the prime minister, while the equivalent for the House of Commons is a member of Parliament, who is elected by the other members of that body. In general, the powers of the latter are greater than those of the former. Following the British model, the upper chamber is essentially self-regulating, but the lower chamber is controlled by the chair, in a majoritarian model that gives great power and authority to

5832-486: The aftermath of the WE Charity scandal . The prorogations of the federal parliament in 2008 and 2009, and the speculation that such use of the royal prerogative had been advised by the sitting prime minister for political purposes, triggered protests in various cities across the country through early 2010. Within a week after the latter prorogation, the multi-partisan organization Fair Vote Canada had gathered

5940-427: The apolitical Crown. The upper house of the Parliament of Canada, the Senate ( French : Sénat ), is a group of 105 individuals appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister; all those appointed must, per the constitution, be a minimum of 30 years old, be a subject of the monarch, and own property with a net worth of at least $ 4,000, in addition to owning land worth no less than $ 4,000 within

6048-451: The assent of the original house in order to stand part of the final bill. If one house passes amendments that the other will not agree to, and the two houses cannot resolve their disagreements, the bill fails. Once the bill is passed in identical form by both houses, it is presented for Royal Assent ; in theory, the governor general has three options: grant Royal Assent, thereby making the bill into law; withhold Royal Assent, thereby vetoing

6156-577: The bill, and recommend amendments. The bill may also be committed to the Committee of the Whole , a body consisting of, as the name suggests, all the members of the chamber in question. Finally, the bill could be referred to an ad hoc committee established solely to review the piece of legislation in question. Each chamber has their own procedure for dealing with this, with the Senate establishing special committees that function like most other committees, and

6264-441: The bill; or reserve the bill for the signification of the King's pleasure , which allows the sovereign to personally grant or withhold assent. If the governor general does grant Royal Assent, the monarch may, within two years, disallow the bill, thus annulling the law in question. In the federal sphere, no bill has ever been denied royal approval. In conformity with the British model, only the House of Commons may originate bills for

6372-455: The budget and allowing its passage. If the vote on the third reading had again been tied, the speaker would have been expected to vote against the bill, bringing down the government. Simultaneous interpretation for both official languages, English and French , is provided at all times during sessions of both houses. Laws, known in their draft form as bills , may be introduced by any member of either house. However, most bills originate in

6480-480: The budget is always a matter of confidence. Where a government has lost the confidence of the House of Commons, the prime minister is obliged to either resign (allowing the governor general to appoint the leader of the Opposition to the office) or seek the dissolution of Parliament and the call of a general election. A precedent, however, was set in 1968, when the government of Lester B. Pearson unexpectedly lost

6588-409: The cabinet to account for its actions, a task central to the functioning of responsible government . In the 19th and early 20th centuries, prorogations in Canada lasted at least half of any given year. Parliament would typically be in session from February until June, give or take a few months, and would be prorogued for the remainder of the year, giving Members of Parliament the opportunity to spend

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6696-403: The chair. In 1991, however, the powers of the speaker of the Senate were expanded, which reorganized the balance of power to be closer to the framework of the Commons. The usher of the black rod of the Senate of Canada is the most senior protocol position in Parliament, being the personal messenger to the legislature of the sovereign and governor general. The usher is also a floor officer of

6804-408: The commission presented their findings, Macdonald was censured and had to resign. According to Christopher Moore , it was at this point that the relationship between backbenchers and the prime minister began an evolution; "MacDonald himself became one of the inventors of the 'party machine'—the party as a disciplined, centralized, loyal team that would not dare to turn on him as it had in 1873." By

6912-419: The committee made no amendments to the bill, immediately after the committee stage), the final phase of the bill—the third reading —occurs, at which time further amendments are not permitted in the House of Commons, but are allowed in the Senate. If it passes the third reading, the bill is sent to the other house of Parliament, where it passes through the same stages; amendments made by the second chamber require

7020-430: The commons will support. The lower house may attempt to bring down the government by either rejecting a motion of confidence —generally initiated by a minister to reinforce the Cabinet's support in the commons—or by passing a motion of no confidence—introduced by the opposition to display its distrust of the Cabinet. Important bills that form part of the government's agenda will usually be considered matters of confidence;

7128-409: The consent of the Senate, the House of Commons, and the legislative assemblies of two-thirds of the provinces representing a majority of the population; the unanimous consent of provincial legislative assemblies is required for certain amendments, including those affecting the sovereign, the governor general, the provincial lieutenant governors , the official status of the English and French languages,

7236-469: The constitution bars it from conferring any "exceeding those at the passing of such an Act held, enjoyed, and exercised by the [British House of] Commons... and by the Members thereof." The foremost dispensation held by both houses of Parliament is that of freedom of speech in debate; nothing said within the chambers may be questioned by any court or other institution outside of Parliament. In particular,

7344-508: The constitution. As both the monarch and his or her representatives are traditionally barred from the House of Commons, any parliamentary ceremonies in which they are involved take place in the Senate chamber. The upper and lower houses do, however, each contain a mace , which indicates the authority of the King-in-Parliament and the privilege granted to that body by him, both bearing a crown at their apex. The original mace for

7452-452: The end of 2008. Following the prorogation of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in October 2012, Daniel Weinstock, a professor of law at McGill University , opined that there may be a need for new procedures "to discipline power", limiting in all of Canada's jurisdictions the royal prerogative to prorogue parliament, among other legislative procedures. At the same time, some journalists, such as Norman Spector and Andrew Coyne , lamented

7560-579: The faults of the American federal system, with its relatively powerful states and a less powerful federal government. The British North America Act limited the powers of the provinces, providing that all subjects not explicitly delegated to them by that document remain within the authority of the Canadian Parliament, while simultaneously giving the provinces unique powers in certain agreed-upon areas of jurisdiction. Full legislative autonomy

7668-399: The federal and provincial legislatures ; in general, provincial legislatures may only pass laws relating to topics explicitly reserved for them by the constitution (such as education, provincial officers, municipal government, charitable institutions, and "matters of a merely local or private nature") while any matter not under the exclusive authority of the provincial legislatures is within

7776-521: The federal parliament regulates marriage and divorce in general, but the solemnization of marriage is regulated only by the provincial legislatures. Other examples include the powers of both the federal and provincial parliaments to impose taxes, borrow money, punish crimes, and regulate agriculture. The powers of Parliament are also limited by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms , though most of its provisions can be overridden by use of

7884-447: The formality of Wellington Street opposite Parliament, and for the sensitivity to the modest commercial proportions of Sparks Street visible in its "back" façade. Historically, the building there of the Canadian headquarters of a large American firm coincides with the emergence of Ottawa as a regional commercial centre. The building was a deliberate example of advanced thinking concerning efficient office planning for clerical "factories" and

7992-434: The governor general to end a parliamentary session. In October 2010, Peter Russell said to the press that he had organized for February 2011, with the support of Governor General David Johnston , a meeting of constitutional scholars, historians, and government officials from various countries in the hopes of finding a consensus on how the royal prerogative should be used in future scenarios similar to that which took place at

8100-430: The imposition of taxes or for the appropriation of Crown funds. The constitutional amendment procedure does make provision for the Commons overcoming an otherwise-required Senate resolution in most cases. Otherwise, the theoretical power of both houses over bills is equal, with the assent of each being required for passage. In practice, however, the House of Commons is dominant, with the Senate rarely exercising its powers in

8208-439: The legislature cease all legislative business until the governor general issues another proclamation calling for a new session to begin; except for the election of a speaker for the House of Commons and his or her claiming of that house's privileges, the same procedures for the opening of Parliament are again followed. After a number of such sessions—having ranged from one to seven —a Parliament comes to an end via dissolution , and

8316-463: The legislature, after which the writs for a general federal election are usually dropped by the governor general at Rideau Hall . Upon completion of the election, the governor general, on the advice of the prime minister, then issues a royal proclamation summoning Parliament to assemble. On the date given, new MPs are sworn in and then are, along with returning MPs, called to the Senate, where they are instructed to elect their speaker and return to

8424-563: The legislature. While her father, King George VI , had been the first Canadian monarch to grant royal assent in the legislature—doing so in 1939—Queen Elizabeth II was the first sovereign to deliver the speech from the throne . This event, in 1957, was the first time television cameras were allowed into the chambers of parliament, as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation broadcast the speech nation-wide. The Canadian House of Commons and Senate last requested

8532-484: The legislatures, though this is usually done for the federal parliament by the sovereign's federal representative, the Governor General of Canada , and always for the provincial parliaments by the monarch's provincial representatives, the lieutenant governors . Like all such actions of the sovereign and governors, this is exclusively done on the advice of the relevant prime minister who holds the confidence of

8640-551: The maces of the House of Commons and Senate crossed behind. The budget for the Parliament of Canada for the 2010 fiscal year was $ 583,567,000. Following the cession of New France to the United Kingdom in the 1763 Treaty of Paris , Canada was governed according to the Royal Proclamation issued by King George III in that same year. To this was added the Quebec Act , by which the power to make ordinances

8748-431: The mid-20th century, parliamentary caucuses were being told by their leaders that they had "no right to question what a leader did or said". In 2002, Governor General Adrienne Clarkson accepted Prime Minister Jean Chrétien 's advice to prorogue parliament, allowing Chrétien to avoid tabling a report to the House of Commons public accounts committee regarding the sponsorship scandal that surrounded Chrétien's party at

8856-413: The new one arrived from the United Kingdom in 1917, is still carried into the Senate each 3 February. The Senate's 1.6-metre-long mace comprises brass and gold. The Senate may not sit if its mace is not in the chamber; it typically sits on the table with the crown facing the throne, though it may, during certain ceremonies, be held by the mace bearer, standing adjacent to the governor general or monarch in

8964-521: The opposition to vote on finding Cabinet ministers in Contempt of Parliament for withholding from the legislature information related to halting the projects. In early 2013, Onley explained in an interview conducted by the Toronto Star that, though he and McGuinty discussed the matter, among others, before he granted the prorogation, he ultimately could only follow the constitution and adhere to

9072-437: The original building, and in 1958-59 a six-storey wing was added to the east, both to designs by Marani and Morris, architects, Toronto. Public Works Canada is the custodian of the building. In January, 1987, the building was designated Recognized by Canada's Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office because of its sophisticated Beaux Arts design and its environmental importance. It is valuable both for its strong contribution to

9180-569: The party membership rather than caucus, as is the case in the United Kingdom; John Robson of the National Post opined that Canada's parliament had become a body akin to the American Electoral College , "its sole and ceremonial role to confirm the executive in power." At the end of the 20th century and into the 21st, analysts—such as Jeffrey Simpson , Donald Savoie , and John Gomery —argued that both Parliament and

9288-477: The passage of the bill establishing the Goods and Services Tax , Prime Minister Brian Mulroney advised Queen Elizabeth II to appoint extra senators in 1990. This results in a temporary maximum number of senators of 113, which must through attrition return to its normal number of 105. The elected component of the Canadian Parliament is the House of Commons ( French : Chambre des communes ), with each member chosen by

9396-617: The power to prorogue". Harper again advised the Governor General to prorogue parliament on December 30, 2009. The Prime Minister stated that this was to keep parliament in recess for the duration of the XXI Olympic Winter Games to be held in Vancouver , British Columbia , in February 2010. The move, however, was suspected by opposition Members of Parliament to be a way for Harper to avoid ongoing investigations into

9504-461: The prime minister, which may be preceded by a successful motion of no confidence . The timing of such dissolutions may be politically motivated. Both houses determine motions by voice vote ; the presiding officer puts the question and, after listening to shouts of "yea" and "nay" from the members, announces which side is victorious. This decision by the Speaker is final, unless a recorded vote

9612-412: The principles of responsible government ; only if the premier were "trying to subvert democracy" could Onley have refused the advice and, as Onley put it, "something that's politically controversial doesn't fit that category. Doesn't even come close... It's up to the politicians to work out the political process, the political decision-making that is behind prorogation—and the fallout after prorogation." On

9720-431: The program and policy plans, as well as the projected expenditures, and the effectiveness of the implementation thereof, for the same departments; and the analysis of the performance of those departments. Most often, bills end up before a standing committee , which is a body of members or senators who specialize in a particular subject (such as foreign affairs ), and who may hear testimony from ministers and experts, debate

9828-468: The prorogation in between sessions is often only a few days and new sessions are started more for organizational or political reasons than for the purpose of giving members of parliament time away. Between 1867 and 2010 the average period of prorogation was 151 days. However, in the 30 year period between 1980 and 2010, the average was just 22 days. In 1873, during the 2nd Canadian Parliament , Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald advised Governor General

9936-525: The prorogation on two conditions: parliament would reconvene soon and, when it did, the Cabinet would present a proposed budget, a vote on which is a confidence matter. This, Russell said, set a precedent that would prevent future prime ministers from advising the prorogation of parliament "for any length of time for any reason". Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto, wrote of Harper that "no Prime Minister has so abused

10044-436: The province the candidate seeks to represent. Senators served for life until 1965, when a constitutional amendment imposed a mandatory retirement age of 75. Senators may, however, resign their seats prior to that mark, and can lose their position should they fail to attend two consecutive sessions of Parliament. The principle underlying the Senate's composition is equality amongst Canada's geographic regions (called Divisions in

10152-494: The provinces of New Brunswick , Nova Scotia , and Canada—with the Province of Canada split into Quebec and Ontario —into a single federation called the Dominion of Canada . Though the form of the new federal legislature was again nearly identical to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the decision to retain this model was made with heavy influence from the just-concluded American Civil War , which indicated to many Canadians

10260-542: The riding. The governor general also summons and calls together the House of Commons, and may prorogue or dissolve Parliament , in order to either end a parliamentary session or call a general election . The governor general also delivers the throne speech at the opening of each new Parliament (the monarch occasionally has done so, instead of the governor general, when visiting Canada). The current Parliament , summoned by Governor General Mary Simon in November 2021,

10368-481: The rules, including contempt of Parliament —disobedience of its authority; for example, giving false testimony before a parliamentary committee—and breaches of its own privileges. The Canadian Heraldic Authority , on 15 April 2008, granted the Parliament of Canada, as an institution, a heraldic achievement composed of symbols of the three elements of Parliament: the escutcheon of the Royal Arms of Canada with

10476-422: The same procedures for the opening of parliament are again followed. Prorogation is a routine action, including in "situations where governments need to stop and refocus." At the same time, arbitrary use of the power of prorogation can "[unbalance] the very fragile balance of power that exists between the different parts of government." What is paramount is that the legislature be recalled so the opposition can hold

10584-419: The scope of the federal Parliament's power. Thus, Parliament alone can pass laws relating to, among other things, the postal service, census, military , navigation and shipping, fishing, currency, banking, weights and measures, bankruptcy, copyrights, patents, First Nations , and naturalization . In some cases, however, the jurisdictions of the federal and provincial parliaments may be more vague. For instance,

10692-467: The signatures of 132 political scientists to a letter condemning the move and advocating for electoral reform . New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jack Layton called on January 20 and 23, 2010, for limits to prorogation, stating his party would put forward proposed legislative changes that would require a majority vote of MPs for the prorogation of parliament. Five days later, Liberal Party of Canada leader Michael Ignatieff also called for limits to

10800-406: The speaker of the Senate, on behalf of the Crown, replies in acknowledgement after the sovereign or viceroy takes their seat on the throne. The speech is then read aloud. It can outline the program of the Cabinet for the upcoming legislative session, as well as other matters chosen by the speaker. A parliamentary session lasts until a prorogation, after which, without ceremony, both chambers of

10908-638: The subject of the lack of a date on which the legislature would be summoned to return, the Lieutenant Governor said he had no guide; the legislature's standing orders outline that a specific date must be set, but the Legislative Assembly Act does not, and precedents are inconsistent. On August 18, 2020, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau asked Governor General Julie Payette to prorogue parliament until September 23 amid

11016-487: The term is not usually applied to senators (except in legislation, such as the Parliament of Canada Act ), even though the Senate is a part of Parliament. Though legislatively less powerful, senators take higher positions in the national order of precedence . No individual may serve in more than one chamber at the same time. The sovereign's place in the legislature, formally known as the King-in-Parliament ,

11124-523: The time. After parliament was again summoned, investigations into the scandal continued, Chrétien stepped down as Prime Minister in December of the following year, and the Liberal party was reduced to a minority government in the subsequent election . A prorogation of parliament took place on December 4, 2008, when Prime Minister Stephen Harper advised Governor General Michaëlle Jean to do so after

11232-532: The valuable Byzantine-style mosaic in its vestibule, and the long-lost decorative cast iron canopy on Wellington Street. Work was completed in the spring of 2016. 45°25′18″N 75°42′03″W  /  45.421725°N 75.700951°W  / 45.421725; -75.700951 Parliament of Canada Later added some jurisdiction from: His Majesty's Loyal Opposition Parties with official status Parties without official status The Parliament of Canada ( French : Parlement du Canada )

11340-549: Was granted by the Statute of Westminster, 1931 , passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Though the statute allowed the Parliament of Canada to repeal or amend previously British laws as they applied to Canada, it did not permit amendment to Canada's constitution, including the British North America Acts. Hence, whenever a constitutional amendment was sought by the Canadian Parliament, the enactment of

11448-517: Was granted to a governor-in-council , both the governor and council being appointed by the British monarch in Westminster, on the advice of his or her ministers there. In 1791, the Province of Quebec was divided into Upper and Lower Canada , each with an elected legislative assembly , an appointed legislative council , and a governor, mirroring the parliamentary structure in Britain. During

11556-554: Was in Montreal ; and, after a few years of alternating between Toronto and Quebec City , the legislature was finally moved to Ottawa in 1856, Queen Victoria having chosen that city as Canada's capital in 1857. The modern-day Parliament of Canada came into existence in 1867, in which year the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland passed the British North America Act, 1867 , uniting

11664-476: Was necessary because an impasse was reached with labour leaders and the opposition over plans to freeze all public sector wages. The opposition charged that it was done to dodge negative publicity over the investigation and criminal probe into the Ornge Air affair , as well as the controversial decision to halt construction of two gas-fired power plants during the previous election and the subsequent threats by

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