(Disponible en français : Résumé – Les langues officielles et le Parlement) In the Canadian parliamentary context, English and French enjoy equality of status and use. In fact, there are a number of constitutional and legislative provisions governing the use of both official languages in Parliament. These provisions, which have evolved over the course of…
14 July 2020, 9:30 a.m. (Disponible en français : La diplomatie parlementaire pendant la pandémie de COVID-19) The COVID-19 pandemic is posing challenges for dialogue and cooperation among the world’s legislators. Nevertheless, Canada’s federal parliamentarians are continuing with their parliamentary diplomacy. For example, the Honourable George Furey, Speaker of the Senate, and the Honourable Anthony…
Revised on 5 June 2020, 9:35 a.m. Any substantive changes in this HillNote that have been made since the preceding issue are indicated in bold print. (Disponible en français : Continuité du système de gouvernement du Canada en temps de crise) On 13 March 2020, the House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion that cancelled…
(Disponible en français : Vous sentez-vous prêts à légiférer?) Government legislation often overshadows the important role played by individual members of Parliament and senators in proposing laws. Since 1910, 278 bills sponsored by MPs and senators have been passed by Parliament, 43 in the 41st Parliament alone. Of the 43 receiving royal assent, some designated…
(Disponible en français : Le Parlement et les tribunaux : l’équilibre des rôles) The role of judges and the courts in the evolution of Canadian law must be examined in the Canadian federal and constitutional context. It is closely linked to the role of Parliament and the provincial legislative assemblies (legislative branch). The judicial branch…
(Disponible en français : Le Parlement et la politique monétaire du Canada) Monetary policy is one of the two key components of the Government of Canada’s economic policy, the other being fiscal policy. Fiscal policy includes measures by the government to raise revenue (taxation, user fees, etc.) and spend funds (transfers, programs, etc.), whereas monetary…
Note: This publication was updated in November, 2019: Parliamentary Diplomacy: Canadian Parliamentarians and the World (Disponible en français : La diplomatie parlementaire et les parlementaires canadiens dans le monde) In today’s complex world, the lines between domestic and international policy are blurred and governments are no longer the only global actors. As a result, Canadian…