Essay On Canada's Parliament

CANADA’S PARLIAMENT

Canada’s Parliament, as conceived by the Fathers of Confederation in 1867, continues to be a vibrant example of democracy in action. In Parliament, our representatives examine the top issues of the day, decide on policies and laws, and hold the government accountable for its actions. Canada's parliamentary system is open and democratic. It offers the opportunity for people to give their input and it is designed to make sure proposals for laws are carefully considered. Canada’s Parliament consists of three parts: the Queen (our Head of State), represented by the Governor General; the appointed Senate; and the elected House of Commons. They work together to make the laws for our country.

First part of Canada’s Parliament

Senate is the upper house of parliament while House of Common is the lower house. It has 105 members. Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister to represent regions, provinces or territories. Senators can serve until the age of 75. All those summoned to the Senate by the viceroy must, per the constitution, be a minimum of 30 years old, be a subject of the monarch, and own property with a net worth of at least $4,000, in addition to owning land worth no less than $4,000 within the province he or she is to represent. The Senate is divided equally amongst four geographic regions: 24 for Ontario, 24 for Quebec, 24 for the Maritimes (10 forNova Scotia, 10 for New Brunswick, and four for Prince Edward Island), and 24 for the Western provinces (six each forManitoba, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Alberta). This power has been employed only once since 1867 which is to ensure the passage of the bill establishing the Goods and Services

It is an appendix to the Constitution Act that outlines a civil right of each Canadian citizen. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society. It also gives a fundamental freedom to people. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms such as freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication, freedom of peaceful assembly; and freedom of association. Other than that, CCRF also states democratic right, means that every citizen of Canada has the right to vote in an election of members of the House of Common or of a legislative assembly and to be qualified for membership therein. There are many other things that CCRF hold such as mobility right, legal right, equality rights, official language of Canada, and minority language educational rights. The guarantee in this Charter of certain rights and freedoms shall not be construed as denying the existence of any other rights or freedoms that exist in Canada. A reference in this Charter to a province or to the legislative assembly or legislature of a province shall be deemed to include a reference to the Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories, or to the appropriate legislative authority thereof, as the case