The Canadian Parliament is the central institution of Canada’s federal government, responsible for the creation, amendment, and passage of laws. It functions as a representative body that reflects the democratic principles of the country, with its powers defined by the Constitution Act, 1867 (formerly the British North America Act, 1867) and subsequent amendments, including the Constitution Act, 1982.
The Canadian Parliament consists of two houses:
- The House of Commons: The lower house of Parliament, the House of Commons is composed of Members of Parliament (MPs) who are directly elected by Canadian citizens in federal elections held every four years (or sooner if a vote of non-confidence occurs). The number of MPs per province is based on population size, ensuring that each region’s representation corresponds to its demographic weight. The House of Commons is the primary legislative body, where most of the proposed laws (bills) are introduced, debated, and voted on. The political party with the most seats in the House of Commons typically forms the government, with its leader becoming the Prime Minister. The official opposition is formed by the party with the second-highest number of seats.
- The Senate: The upper house, the Senate, consists of appointed senators who serve until the age of 75. Senators are appointed by the Prime Minister, based on regional representation and the principle of providing expertise and review of legislation. There are 105 senators representing regions such as Ontario, Quebec, the Maritimes, the Western provinces, and the territories. While the Senate can review and amend bills passed by the House of Commons, it generally does not have the power to block bills permanently, and its role is primarily to act as a “chamber of sober second thought.”
The Canadian Parliament meets at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada. It operates on the principle of responsible government, which means that the executive branch (the Prime Minister and Cabinet) is drawn from and accountable to the elected House of Commons.
Parliament has several key responsibilities, including:
- Passing laws (legislation).
- Approving government spending and taxation.
- Scrutinizing and holding the executive accountable through question periods, debates, and committee work.
- Ratifying international treaties and agreements.
The Parliament’s structure is designed to balance the democratic principle of representation (through the House of Commons) with regional equity and expertise (through the Senate). Though the Senate’s power is more limited, it plays an important role in reviewing legislation from a broader perspective.