Canada
Oversight
Data on parliament’s oversight role and activities
Oversight tools
Parliament has the power to summon members of the government
Parliament has the power to summon senior government officials
Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments
Key government appointments include, for example, ambassadors or the head of the central bank.
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Standing Orders of the House of Commons, Standing Orders 110–111. The House of Commons uniquely plays a role in appointing the Chief Electoral Officer.
Approximate number of government appointments subject to parliamentary approval
8
Number of written questions asked, per year
784 (2021)
See historical data for this field.
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
440 (2021)
See historical data for this field.
Notes
For the House of Commons, totals for each year represent questions that received a verbal answer in the House or a written answer tabled in the House. Some written questions were later withdrawn:
2013: 4
2014: 8
2015: 2
2016: 2
2017: 2
Please note, a single written question can occasionally elicit revised and supplementary answers from the government of Canada. Written questions can also include multiple sub-questions soliciting responses from multiple government departments. Total number of written questions answered by the government per year does not take into account any additional revised or supplementary answers.
2013: 4
2014: 8
2015: 2
2016: 2
2017: 2
Please note, a single written question can occasionally elicit revised and supplementary answers from the government of Canada. Written questions can also include multiple sub-questions soliciting responses from multiple government departments. Total number of written questions answered by the government per year does not take into account any additional revised or supplementary answers.
Parliament has power to carry out inquiries
Yes
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution Act 1867, Preamble and s. 18; Standing Orders of the House of Commons, Standing Order 108(1)(a).
Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
3 (2021)
See historical data for this field.
Notes
Totals represent the number of special committees created in the House of Commons and Senate by calendar year. In addition, the number of substantive reports of committees tabled by the House of Commons and Senate combined include:
2013: 65
2014: 63
2015: 75
2016: 85
2017: 130
2013: 65
2014: 63
2015: 75
2016: 85
2017: 130
Head of State and/or Government
Head of State and/or Government
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government
Some parliaments elect the Head of Government or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Other (please specify)
Notes
By convention, it is the Governor General’s (as the representative of the Head of State) duty to select the Prime Minister (Head of Government). The individual selected must be able to form a government and seek the confidence of the House. By convention, this is the leader of the political party that has won the most number of seats in the House of Commons.
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
The selection of the Head of Government by the Sovereign is an unwritten convention.
The Head of Government is also the Head of State
No
Parliament’s role
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State
Some parliaments designate the Head of State or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Parliament does not play a role
Notes
The Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, is the Head of State. The Governor General represents the Queen in Canada and carries out the duties of Head of State. By convention, the Queen appoints the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution Act 1867, 30 & 31 Victoria, c. 3 (U.K.), s. 9-10.
Impeachment and confidence motions
Procedure for parliament
There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution
There is a procedure to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; The Head of State; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
The whole Government
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Unwritten convention. Officially, the Governor General has the authority to dismiss the government, however this only occurs when the government loses the confidence of the House of Commons.
Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment
In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Lower chamber
Impeachment Role
There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution
There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
The whole Government
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Unwritten convention. The confidence convention is not written into any statute or Standing Order of the House.
Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence
In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Lower chamber
Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
In some countries, the adoption of a motion of no confidence in the Government automatically leads to the dissolution of Parliament in certain countries. In other cases, a new government can be formed.
No