Canada

Senate

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Structure

Data on parliamentary sessions, parliamentary committees and parliamentary groups.

Sessions

Number of ordinary sessions of parliament per year
Other

Notes: The length of a session of parliament varies. there is not a specified number of sitting days per session or a specified number of sessions per parliament. it may be noted, however, that the constitution requires that parliament meet, at a minimum, once per calendar year. in practice, parliament typically sits for approximately 27 weeks per year.

Dates of parliamentary sessions

Dates of parliamentary sessions
Parliament is usually in ordinary session Extraordinary sessions can be held
January x
February x
March x
April x
May x
June x
July
August
September x
October x
November x
December x
Number of days the parliament/chamber met in plenary, per year
80
(2023)
All languages recognized in the constitution can be used in plenary meetings
Yes

Committees

Number of permanent committees
17
(2021-11)
Number of permanent joint committees in bicameral parliaments
2
(2021-11)

Parliamentary groups

Parliamentary groups are recognized in the parliamentary rules
Yes
Number of parliamentary groups
4
(2023)
Minimum number of members required to form a parliamentary group
9
There is a minimum number of members to form a parliamentary group
Yes
Percentage of members required to form a parliamentary group
9%
(2023)
Independent members can jointly form a parliamentary group
Yes
Not applicable. There are no independent members in this parliament/chamber
No
Several parties can jointly form a parliamentary group
Yes
Relevant provisions about parliamentary groups in the parliamentary rules of procedure

Several sections of the Rules of the Senate are also related to the rights and privileges of parliamentary groups.

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No