Reading Time: < 1 minute Disponible en français. Understanding economic statistics and federal government finances can be complex. Through 23 questions and answers, this HillStudy explores key economic and financial concepts, including production: gross domestic product (GDP); inflation: consumer price index; nominal and real GDP; raw… Read More ›
Reading Time: < 1 minute Disponible en français. Officers of Parliament support both houses in their accountability and scrutiny functions by carrying out independent oversight responsibilities assigned to them by statute. These officers are responsible directly to Parliament rather than to the government or a… Read More ›
Reading Time: < 1 minute Disponible en français. Canada’s founding document, the Constitution Act, 1867, established the country as a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. Executive authority resides with the Sovereign or that person’s representative (i.e., the Governor General of Canada). The Constitution assigns the Governor General a wide range… Read More ›
Reading Time: < 1 minute Disponible en français. Under section 91(24) of the Constitution Act, 1867, the federal government has exclusive legislative authority for “Indians, and Lands reserved for the Indians.” This responsibility, however, often overlaps with that of the provinces, whose authority extends to areas such as child welfare, education and policing. While “Indians” means all Indigenous peoples for the purpose of section 91(24),… Read More ›
Reading Time: 2 minutes Disponible en français. There are various rules governing the use of French and English within the Canadian judicial system. This Background Paper focuses on the federal government’s role in the matter, looking particularly at the issues relating to bilingualism within the Canadian court system. There are a number of different acts that govern the administration of justice in the two official… Read More ›
Reading Time: 6 minutes Revised on 21 December 2020, 10:05 a.m. Any substantive changes in this HillNote that have been made since the preceding issue are indicated in bold print. (Disponible en français : Le cadre réglementaire pour les langues officielles, revu et corrigé) Chronology… Read More ›
Reading Time: 2 minutes (Disponible en français : Résumé – Le système de lobbying à l’échelle fédérale : La Loi sur le lobbying et le Code de déontologie des lobbyistes) The preamble to the Lobbying Act states that free and open access to government is an important… Read More ›
Reading Time: 4 minutes (Disponible en français : Restructuration de l’appareil gouvernemental : portefeuille des affaires autochtones) More than twenty years ago, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommended that “the government of Canada present legislation to abolish the Department of Indian Affairs and… Read More ›