Canada
Law-making
Data on parliament’s law-making role and activities
Legislative activity
Number of laws adopted by parliament, per year
21 (2022)
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Notes
For some parliaments, data can not be presented on an annual basis, for example because parliamentary sessions run from April to March of the following year. In such cases, the period to which the data corresponds is specified here.
This represents the number of Acts of the Parliament of Canada by calendar year, including Public General Acts and Private Acts.
Total number of laws adopted by Parliament in the previous legislature
40 (2021)
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Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by parliament
8 (2021)
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Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by the government
32 (2021)
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Dates of the previous legislature
05.12.2019 to 15.08.2021
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Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislation
For bicameral parliaments: Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislationNot applicable; The legislation cannot be adopted unless both chambers agree; The decision of the lower chamber will take effect after a certain deadline; The decision of the upper chamber will take effect after a certain deadline; Other (please specify)
For bicameral parliaments: Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislation
The legislation cannot be adopted unless both chambers agree
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
It is the parliamentary tradition that both Houses must approve all legislation. Since Canadian Confederation in 1867, the Senate has rejected 133 bills that were approved and passed by the House of Commons.
Executive-legislative relations
Legislation adopted by parliament requires the assent of the Head of State
In some countries, the Constitution foresees that legislation adopted by parliament must be signed into law by the Head of State. If so, the Head of State may, for example, have the power to veto the legislation, return it to parliament, or submit it to another body such as a constitutional court.
Yes
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Sections 55 to 57 of the Constitution Act, 1867 deal with the granting of Royal Assent by the Governor General, and with the circumstances in which Assent can be withheld. More recently, the Royal Assent Act (S.C. 2002, c. 15) was passed to provide an alternative to the formal Royal Assent process formerly used in the Canadian Parliament, so that Royal Assent can be signified by written declaration. Technically the Head of State could refuse to give a bill Royal Assent, however by convention the Governor General does not refuse and always acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and Parliament. Section 55 affirms that the Governor General can withhold Royal Assent, but convention dictates that a Governor General will always give assent to a bill which has passed both houses of Parliament.
Number of times the Head of State declined to give assent to legislation, per year
0 (2022)
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Consequences when the Head of State declines to give assent to legislation
Consequences when the Head of State declines to give assent to legislation: Not applicable; No further action is taken. The legislation is rejected; The legislation is returned to Parliament for re-examination; The legislation is referred to the Constitutional/Supreme Court;The legislation is put to a referendum; Other (please specify)
Not applicable
Not applicable. The Head of State cannot decline to give assent to legislation adopted by parliament
No
Final decision when parliament and the Head of State do not agree
Final decision when parliament and the Head of State do not agree: Not applicable; Parliament; Head of State; Constitutional/Supreme Court; Other (please specify)
Not applicable
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Existence of a procedure to introduce emergency legislation
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See historical data for this field.
Not applicable. There is no procedure to introduce emergency legislation.
No