CANADA HISTORY - Parliament

House of Commons


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The Canadian House of Commons was deliberately modeled after the British House of Commons, and even today, in procedural matters where Canadian rules and practices do not provide guidance, the practices of the British House are followed. The British House of Commons originated as a body of petitioners, representatives from the shires and boroughs, summoned by the early Kings of England, primarily when the monarchy needed money. Over time, the Commons gained influence by insisting that any grants of money would be contingent on the redress of grievances. This early practice evolved into a key principle of the parliamentary system: the right to discuss grievances and demand remedies before granting financial resources.

Although the direct powers of the Crown in parliamentary matters have been transferred to an elected government, this principle of holding the government accountable before granting financial supply remains at the core of parliamentary democracy in Canada. In modern Canadian parliamentary practice, this principle is institutionalized through mechanisms such as "allotted days". Each session, 25 days are set aside specifically for the opposition to move motions on any subject it chooses. Of these, six days are reserved for motions of non-confidence in the government, allowing opposition parties to formally express their lack of support for the current administration. Besides these allotted days, motions of non-confidence can also be introduced during debates on major legislative matters such as the Throne Speech and the Budget, as well as on other significant occasions.

The Role and Power of the House of Commons



The Canadian House of Commons is unquestionably the effective source of power in the Canadian parliamentary system. Initially, the House of Commons consisted of 181 members, each representing constituencies proportionally based on provincial populations. Today, while proportional representation is still the basis for determining the distribution of seats, the system has been adjusted by constitutional provisions to ensure that no province has fewer members in the Commons than in the Senate, and to prevent significant seat losses for any province in the redistribution following each decennial census.

The current House of Commons is composed of 338 members, each elected from single-member constituencies. The distribution of seats across provinces is based on population, but it includes constitutional guarantees that provide a minimum representation for smaller provinces. This ensures that no province loses too many seats during each electoral redistribution, which happens after the census every ten years.

As of the 2025 election, the House of Commons will continue to reflect proportional representation, with specific numbers of seats allocated to each province. The general principle of "representation by population" underpins the allocation of seats, ensuring that provinces with larger populations have more representation.

The House of Commons and Parliamentary Procedure



The House of Commons is the central body in Canada’s parliamentary system, responsible for much of the nation’s legislative work. It is the focal point of parliamentary activity and public attention, where key national and international issues are debated openly. Here, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition engage in regular debate, Cabinet Ministers defend the actions and policies of their respective departments, and the nation's business is conducted in an open and transparent manner. Everything said and done within the House is faithfully recorded in Hansard, the official parliamentary transcript.

While Parliament as a whole is responsible for making laws, the House of Commons plays the predominant role in the legislative process. Any member of the House can introduce a bill, but only the government can introduce bills involving expenditure or taxation. Since most government action requires spending money, raising funds through taxation, or borrowing, the majority of the House's time is devoted to debating government bills. These bills are often critical to national policy, and as a result, Private Members' Bills (bills introduced by individual MPs rather than the government) are allotted limited time for consideration. It is rare for Private Members’ Bills to progress to a final vote, given the dominance of government business on the House's agenda.

Every bill, regardless of whether it originates from the government or an individual MP, must pass through both the House of Commons and the Senate, and receive Royal Assent from the Governor General or their representative (usually a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada) before it becomes law. In modern times, Royal Assent is a ceremonial process, and it is virtually inconceivable that assent would be refused.

General Elections and Dissolution of Parliament



By law, a general election must be held at least once every five years. However, elections are often called before this maximum period expires. The Governor General has the power to dissolve Parliament and call an election, which is a power exercised under the royal prerogative. In practice, this power is typically exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister. This allows for flexibility in the timing of elections, often aligning them with political strategy or national circumstances, rather than strictly adhering to the five-year limit.

The House’s Control over Supply and Financial Matters



Central to the power of the House of Commons is its control over supply, meaning the approval of government spending. Historically, the control over finances has been the most important leverage the House holds over the executive. Even today, financial matters—particularly the budget and government expenditures—are key areas where the House exercises significant oversight. The right to discuss grievances and withhold supply until these grievances are addressed remains a powerful tool for the opposition and ensures government accountability.

Additionally, the process of passing the budget and appropriations involves detailed scrutiny by both the House and its committees. Government departments present their spending estimates to Parliament, and the opposition, as well as government MPs, have opportunities to question the allocation of funds and government priorities. Though the House of Commons authorizes all government expenditures, the complexity of modern budgets makes it difficult for Parliament to exercise total financial control. This is why the committee system, particularly the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, plays a critical role in reviewing government expenditures after the fact, with the assistance of the Auditor General.

The Evolution of Parliament’s Role


The Canadian House of Commons has evolved over time but retains much of its structure and procedure from the British parliamentary tradition. The ability of Parliament to hold the government accountable, especially regarding financial matters, remains central to its role. While the government sets the legislative agenda and controls much of the process, the opposition and individual MPs are provided avenues to scrutinize and challenge the government. Through mechanisms like allotted days, Private Members’ Bills, and committee investigations, the House of Commons ensures that the government remains accountable to the people of Canada.

In summary, the Canadian House of Commons is modeled on its British counterpart but has developed distinct practices that reflect Canada's evolving democratic values and principles. The House remains the effective source of legislative power in the parliamentary system, managing the country’s key decisions while engaging in debates that shape the nation’s future. Whether through the introduction of legislation, financial oversight, or political debate, the House of Commons plays a crucial role in Canadian democracy, ensuring that the government acts in the best interest of its citizens while remaining accountable to the people.


Cite Article : Reference: www.canadahistory.com/sections/documents/documents.html

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