Canadian Advocacy
Welcome to CEC’s Canadian Advocacy webpage! Here you will
find information on Canada’s parliamentary government, including a
history, explanation of the parliamentary process and information on
members of parliament.
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- How can I best advocate on behalf of students with
disabilities and/or gifts and talents?
- Where can I find a brief history of Canada’s
government?
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- Where can I find resources for students with
disabilities and/or gifts and talents?
*Courtesy of the Library of Parliament
1. Who is my member of Parliament and/or
Senator and how can I contact him/her?
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To find out who your Member of Parliament is, visit Canada’s
Parliament website and enter your postal code. You may
contact your Member of Parliament by sending a letter or email to the
contact information listed.
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2. How can I best advocate on behalf of
students with disabilities and/or gifts and talents?
3. Where can I find a brief
history of Canada’s government?
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For a complete history, visit Inside
Canada’s Parliament a website by the Library of
Parliament. This educational website provides users with insight on the
inner workings of parliament from a current and historical
perspective.
4. How is Parliament
organized?
Canada’s Parliament consists of three parts: the Queen (Head of
State), represented by the Governor General; the appointed Senate; and
the elected House of Commons.
The Senate, also known as the Upper or Red Chamber, has 105 members.
Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the
Prime Minister to represent regions, provinces or territories. Senators
can serve until the age of 75.
The House of Commons has 301 members, who are elected to represent
the people in their ridings. The Constitution states that a Parliament
cannot last longer than five years, after which a general election must
be held. Members sit in the House of Commons Chamber, which is decorated
in green following the tradition of the British House of Commons.
* This section is courtesy of The Parliament of Canada
– www.parl.gc.ca
5. What is the legislative
process?
All bills normally go through a similar series of steps in both the
Senate and the Commons.
Introduction: The process begins when a bill is
introduced.
First Reading: The bill is “read” for
the first time, without debate, and printed.
Second Reading: The principle of the bill is
debated. It is then voted on and the bill is sent to a
parliamentary committee.
Committee Stage: A committee hears witnesses,
examines the bill clause by clause and submits a report recommending the
bill be accepted as is or with amendments, or that it not proceed any
further.
Report Stage: Additional amendments to the bill may be
moved, debated and voted on.
Third Reading: The bill is debated a final time and
voted on.
Message: Once passed, the bill is sent to the other
House, where the process starts again from first reading.
Royal Assent: The Governor General or a deputy gives
the bill Royal Assent.
About Parliament:
A Parliament is made up of one or more sessions. A session can last a
few days or several years. It ends when it is prorogued by the Governor
General, at the request of the Prime Minister. A Parliament comes to an
end when the Prime Minister asks the Governor General to dissolve it and
call a general election.
The Constitution requires Parliament to meet at least once a year. In
general, Parliament sits about 27 weeks of the year. Sittings start in
September and usually continue until June, with breaks to permit
Parliamentarians to work in their regions or ridings, or travel on
official business.
Each House meets regularly to deal with national issues and debate
legislation. In addition, the Senate and the House of Commons have
committees that study bills and specific issues in detail.
An agenda determines the daily order of business from the moment the
Mace — representing legislative authority — is placed on the
Table at the start of the day’s sitting until the sitting is
adjourned.
A regular sitting day always includes “routine” business.
At this time, statements are made, bills introduced, petitions and
committee reports presented, documents tabled and other business
transacted.
Most days, the major part of the sitting is spent debating
legislation proposed by the government. Time is also reserved to debate
bills or motions proposed by those who are not in Cabinet, whether
Senators or private Members.
Most Canadians are familiar with Question Period in the House of
Commons. It is a time for the Prime Minister and Cabinet to be held
accountable for government policies and activities. The Senate also has
a Question Period, when Senators ask questions of the Leader of the
Government in the Senate.
* This section is courtesy of The Parliament of Canada
– www.parl.gc.ca
6. Where can I find what bills are pending in
Parliament?
7. Where can I find resources for students
with disabilities and/or gifts and talents?
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