Canada
House of Commons
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Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
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Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
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Bicameral
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IPU membership
Current membership status
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Yes
Oversight
Oversight tools
- Parliament/Chamber has the power to summon members of the government
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Yes
- Parliament/chamber has the power to summon senior government officials
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Yes
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Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments
Key government appointments include, for example, ambassadors or the head of the central bank.
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Yes
Sources:
Standing Orders of the House of Commons, Standing Orders 110–111. The following appointments are subject to parliamentary approval:
• Auditor General of Canada
• Chief Electoral Officer of Canada (by the The House of Commons only)
• Commissioner of Official Languages
• Information Commissioner of Canada
• Privacy Commissioner of Canada
• Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner (by the House of Commons only)
• Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada
• Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada
• Parliamentary Budget Officer
- Approximate number of government appointments subject to parliamentary approval
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9
- Parliament/chamber has the power to approve key government appointments
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Yes
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Number of written questions asked, per year
Depending on a parliament’s system – both written and oral questions may be registered.
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1,056(2023)
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Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
Depending on a parliament’s system – both written and oral questions may be registered
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979(2023)
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.
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Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of written questions answered by the number of questions that were asked.
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92.7%(2023)
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Parliament/chamber has power to carry out inquiries
The power of a parliament to carry out inquiries and the way in which they are done varies across parliaments. The aims and objectives of parliamentary inquiries cover a large spectrum: from a general examination of an issue of public interest to an investigative inquiry into a specific topic, the results of which may have penal implications.
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Yes
Sources: Constitution Act 1867, Preamble and s. 18; Standing Orders of the House of Commons, Standing Order 108(1)(a).
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Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
The total number of inquiries/investigations can include those carried out by any committee (permanent or ad-hoc) or specialized body within parliament. In the case an inquiry/investigation spans more than one year it is ounted once in the year it was initiated. The power of a parliament to carry out inquiries and the way in which they are done varies across parliaments.
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4(2023)
Notes:
Totals represent the number of special committees created in the House of Commons and Senate by calendar year.
The Canadian Parliament has various types of committees including standing committees, special committees and joint committees. Standing committees can undertake studies on any subject that falls within their mandate. Special committees are appointed by the House of Commons to carry out specific inquiries, studies or other tasks that the House judges to be of special importance, e.g., in 2023, there were two special committees, both established in previous years.
In addition, there exist joint committees, composed of members of both the House of Commons and the Senate. For e.g., in 2023 two joint committees existed, both established in previous years.
Head of State and/or Government
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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.
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Other
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 of Commons. By convention, the leader of the political party that has won the most seats in the House of Commons is asked by the Governor General to be Prime Minister.
Sources: The selection of the Head of Government by the Sovereign is an unwritten convention.
- The Head of Government is also the Head of State
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No
- Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State
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Parliament does not play a role
Notes: The Sovereign, His Majesty Charles III, King of Canada, is the Head of State. The Governor General represents the King in Canada and carries out the duties of Head of State. By convention, the monarch appoints the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
Sources: Constitution Act 1867, 30 & 31 Victoria, c. 3 (U.K.), s. 9-10.
Impeachment and confidence motions
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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.
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No
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Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
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Lower chamber
Notes: The Senate of Canada is an appointed body. Senators remain in office when parliament is dissolved.
Impeachment procedure
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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)
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The whole Government
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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
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Lower chamber
Sources: 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.
No confidence processes
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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)
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The whole Government
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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
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Lower chamber
Sources:
Unwritten convention. The confidence convention is not written into any statute or Standing Order of the House.
The Prime Minister and his/her Cabinet must maintain the confidence of the majority of the members of the House of Commons to remain in office. Known as the ‘confidence convention,’ this “provides that if the government is defeated in the House on a question of confidence, then it is expected to resign or seek the dissolution of Parliament in order for a general election to be held.”