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Continuing
traditions
The ideals and activities
of Canada’s Parliament have deep roots in history and tradition. This
heritage provides an invisible structure that guides the work of parliamentarians
and gives them the ability to address issues of substance, to discuss
and debate in a vigorous yet orderly fashion, and develop and adapt laws
that keep pace with the needs of Canadians. Many of Canada’s parliamentary
traditions are based on the parliamentary precedents inherited from Great
Britain. For example:
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At the beginning
of a new Parliament, the Commons’ Speaker enters the Senate Chamber
and requests confirmation of the rights and privileges of the House
of Commons on the Members’ behalf. In Canada, these rights and privileges
are confirmed in the Constitution Act, 1867. This tradition began
in England in 1397 and was common practice by the 16th century when
opposition by the Commons to the Crown was a potentially dangerous
business.
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The Queen, or
her designate, takes her place in the Senate Chamber but refrains
from entering the House of Commons — a British tradition rooted in
the Commons’ response to an outrage committed by Charles I.
- As a symbolic
protection of the power of the Speaker of the House of Commons, the
Sergeant-at-Arms leads the Speaker’s Parade carrying the Mace to open
the day’s sitting. The Mace represents the authority given by the
King or Queen to the House of Commons to meet and decide on the laws
of the country. The House of Commons cannot hold proceedings without
the Mace. When the House is sitting and the Speaker is in the Chair,
the Mace lies in brackets on the Clerk’s Table with the crown pointing
to the Government, on the Speaker’s right. In the Senate, the Mace
bearer places the Mace on the Clerk’s Table with the crown facing
the Throne.
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The Usher of the
Black Rod knocks on the Chamber’s centre door to command the members
of the House of Commons to the Senate for ceremonies such as the Opening
of Parliament, the Speech from the Throne and Royal Assent.
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Tax or supply
bills are tied with a green ribbon (symbolizing the House of Commons)
to differentiate them from other bills, which are bound with a red
ribbon.
Keeping
Traditions Up-to-Date
Much of the modernization
of Parliament ensures that the system continues to fulfill its role
in the face of a changing economic, social, technological and cultural
climate. From modernizing its buildings, to redefining how the Speaker
of the House of Commons is chosen — Parliament’s traditions are constantly
being adapted to keep the parliamentary system alive, vital and responsive
to the evolution of society. Here are some of Parliament’s “modern
traditions”:
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Simultaneous
interpretation services are provided in the Senate and the House
of Commons, giving parliamentarians and members of the public immediate
access to proceedings in either English or French.
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Since October
17, 1977, the House of Commons has been televised live, making Canada
the first country to broadcast the complete proceedings of its national
legislature. A 1994 agreement with CPAC (Cable Public Affairs Channel)
provides for the satellite distribution of all parliamentary proceedings.
Senate committees are now televised regularly on CPAC as well.
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In 1994, a 20-year
project was initiated to renovate the Parliament Buildings. The
comprehensive program is designed to preserve the heritage buildings
for future generations, incorporate new technologies, increase public
access to Parliament, ensure the health and safety of users and
provide quality space to meet requirements for the 21st century.
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In 1995, the
Speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons officially launched
the Parliamentary Internet, an award-winning World Wide Web
site offering Canadians and the world information on the institutions
of Parliament and their history, debates and committee evidence,
and other parliamentary publications.
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Hansard,
the written record of parliamentary debates in the Senate and the
House of Commons, is published overnight in both English and French
and available on the Internet through the Parliamentary Internet
site at http://www.parl.gc.ca.
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Video teleconferencing
of committee meetings has been on the rise since 1994, allowing
parliamentarians to receive the testimony of witnesses from across
the country or around the world — rapidly and conveniently, saving
travel costs.
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Since the mid-1980s,
key reforms have been made to the operations of the House of Commons,
including:
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giving
committees an expanded mandate and greater independence
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expanding
the role of private members of the House of Commons
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electing
the Speaker of the House of Commons by secret ballot
Canada's Parliament
continues to meet the changing needs of Canadians and parliamentarians.
In a democratic system, there is a spirit of openness about how Parliament
works, and the tools and information available to parliamentarians will
likely become increasingly sophisticated - promoting greater efficiency,
effectiveness and responsiveness among parliamentarians and the organizations
supporting their work.
In the words of the Honourable
Eugene Forsey, 1904-1991:
"… government is
our creature. We make it, we are ultimately responsible for it, and, taking
the broad view, in Canada we have considerable reason to be proud of it.
Pride, however, like patriotism, can never be a static thing; there are
always new problems posing new challenges. The closer we are to government,
and the more we know about it, the more we can do to help meet these challenges."
(How Canadians Govern Themselves, 4th Edition, 1997) |