Canada
Openness and transparency
Information about access to parliamentary documents, parliament’s reporting to the public, parliament’s relation to Freedom of Information laws, and lobbying.
Parliamentary documents
The agendas of plenary meetings are published online in advance
The agendas of plenary meetings are published online in advance.
The agendas of committee meetings are published online in advance
The agendas of committee meetings are published online in advance.
Results of votes on draft legislation are published on the parliamentary web site
Results of votes on draft legislation are published on the parliamentary web site.
Draft legislation is published on the parliamentary website
Draft legislation is published on the parliamentary website.
Citizens can submit comments on draft legislation on the parliamentary web site
No
Compare data of this field.
Annual reporting by parliament
Parliament publishes an annual report on its activities
The annual report is available on the parliamentary web site
Yes
Notes
Some parliaments publish monthly/quarterly reports.
Parliament publishes the parliamentary budget
Level of detail of the parliamentary budget made available to the public
Level of detail of the parliamentary budget made available to the public: Only the total amount; A summary of the main elements; The complete budget
A summary of the main elements
The parliamentary budget is available on the parliamentary web site
Yes
Access to parliament
Plenary meetings are open to the public
Notes
Seating in the galleries is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors are required to go through security scanning stations before entering the galleries. They must conduct themselves with appropriate decorum.
Committee meetings are open to the public
Notes
Meetings may take place in camera to discuss committee business, for matters of national security, and to respect the vulnerability of testimony from witnesses
There is a dedicated channel for broadcasting parliamentary meetings
A dedicated channel is one that is mainly about parliament, and is accessible free of charge to the general public. The channel might be owned by Parliament or a public or private company. Dedicated channels may be broadcast by parliament, government, or another broadcaster. They may be carried on television, radio or the Internet (webcasting).
Media used for the dedicated channel
TV
Webcast
Meetings broadcast on the dedicated channel
Plenary sittings
Committee meetings
Freedom of information
There is a freedom of information law in the country
Yes
Parliament is subject to the freedom of information law
Categories of Information that are exempt from disclosure
Certain categories of information may be exempt from disclosure
The Federal Access to Information Act (ATIA) gives Canadians a legal right to request information that is recorded in any form and controlled by federal government institutions.
The Senate, the House of Commons and the Library of Parliament do not fall within the definition of “public institution” in the Act (Section 3) and are therefore exempt. The ATIA also exempts cabinet confidences (i.e. memoranda to cabinet, discussion papers, agenda and records of Cabinet deliberations, records of communication between ministers, records to brief ministers, draft legislation) from access to information requests.
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/A-1/page-1.html
The Senate, the House of Commons and the Library of Parliament do not fall within the definition of “public institution” in the Act (Section 3) and are therefore exempt. The ATIA also exempts cabinet confidences (i.e. memoranda to cabinet, discussion papers, agenda and records of Cabinet deliberations, records of communication between ministers, records to brief ministers, draft legislation) from access to information requests.
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/A-1/page-1.html