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Ou r C ountry, Our Parli ament A GUIDE FOR LEARNERS OF ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE AND AN INTRODUCTION TO HOW WORKS ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:46 PM Page 2

Photos in this publication are from the unless otherwise indicated.

Mountie on cover: © (2007) HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF as represented by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Reprinted with the permission of the RCMP.

© Library of Parliament, 2009

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Our country, our Parliament : a guide for learners of English as a second language and an introduction to how Parliament works.

Issued also in French under : Notre pays, notre Parlement, un guide d'apprentissage destiné aux apprenants du français langue seconde et une introduction au fonctionnement du Parlement. ISBN 978-0-662-46116-6 Cat. no.: YM41-5/2007E

1. Canada. Parliament. 2. Legislative power--Canada. 3. Representative and representation--Canada. 4. Canada--Politics and government. 5. --Textbooks for second language learners--French speakers. I. Canada. Library of Parliament II. Title.

JL136.O87 2009 328.71 C2007-980136-6 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:46 PM Page 3

Ou r C ountry, Our Parli ament A GUIDE FOR LEARNERS OF ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE AND AN IN TRODUCTION TO HOW PARLIAMENT WORKS ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:46 PM Page 4

What’s PARLIAMENT OR GOVERNMENT R WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? 6

HOW TO USE OUR COUNTRY, OUR PARLIAMENT Inside What Do the Icons Mean? 7 Your Youth Narrators 7

>. CANADA: THE ROAD TO Democracy Defined 8 Confederation 9 e Constitution 11 Constitution Act, 1982 11 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms 12

?. CANADA’S SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT Overview of the Canadian 14 e ree Levels of Government 15 e Division of Po wers 16

@. CANADA’S DEMOCRACY IN ACTION Elections 17 Dissolving Parliament 18 Campaigns 18 Political Parties 20 Voting 21 Forming a Government 22 4 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:46 PM Page 5

A. THE BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT e Role of the 23 e Two-Chamber System: e and the House of Commons 23 e Senate 24 e House of Commons 26 e Prime Minister 28 e 28 e Speakers 29 Process of Passing a 30 On the Job with a Senator 32 A Day in the Life of a 33 Parliament 24/7 35

B. YOUR CAPITAL Why ? 37 On the Hill 37 e Parliament B uildings 37

C. PARLIAMENT IN MOTION Evolving Parliamentary Democracy 42 Getting Involved in Democracy 43

Glossary 44 Web Links 49 Getting to Know Your Youth Narrators 50 5 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:46 PM Page 6

PARLIAMENT OR GOVERNMENT What’s the Di ff erence?

ch and • Monarch • (the Monar • the Monarch General, the Prime ed by the • Prime Minister (represent Minister and the Cabinet) Governor General) • Cabinet members eral departments (Senators and MPs) • Fed • Senators (such as National Defence, • Members of Public Safety, and Citizenship Parliament (MPs) and Immigration)

WORD BUILDER R Parliament or Government ese two words don’t mean the same thing! Parliament is the legislative ( law -making) part of government, made up of t he Monarch, the Senate and the House of Commons. For exampl e, Parliament passed a bill . Government has two meanings: • Generally, government refers to the management (governing) of a country. • Specifically, the Government consists of the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the federal departments they manage. 6 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:46 PM Page 7

How to Use Our C ountry, Our Parliamen t

is book introduces you to Canada’s What Do the Icons Mean? Parliament . By the time you finish this You will see icons (symbols) in this book. ese icons introduce you to new ideas and information. book, you will understand: WHAT ABOUT ME? TALK ABOUT IT! • ho w parliamentary democracy works ese sections contain discussion ques - Look for this icon for suggestions on topics in Canada tions, or questions to ask yourself. for dis cussion with your friends and family.

• how people get appointed or elected WORD BUILDER THINK ABOUT IT! to Parliament is is where you can learn new words and ink about why people acted the way phrases. they did. Imagine other ways they could • wha t Senators and MPs do in have acted. Parliament DID YOU KNOW? Find out interesting facts about Parliament! When a word is in bold you can find its • how decisions made in Parliament definition in the glossary at the back of affect you and your community THE MAGNIFYING GLASS this book. Look closer when you see this symbol. Parliament i s a big place! To help you find your way around, a team of narrators have volunteered to help out. Your Youth Narrators Find out more about the youth narrators at the back of this book.

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Canada: e Road 6 7 SEC TION > to Democracy 1 3 2 CANADA IS A DEMOCRACY. WHAT IS A DEMOCRACY? Democracy Defined 6 e word democracy describes a political CANADIAN — A coat of arms is a symbol used to identify someone or something. system. Sometimes a coat of arms appears on an important In a democratic country, all eligible building, or at the top of an o5cial letter. This is the coa t of . It contains many symbols that give citizens have the right to participate, either 4 us clues about Canada’s history and what directly or indirectly, in making the deci - feel is important. See if you can spot: 3 3 4 sions that affect them. Canadian citizens 1 the flag of the normally elect someone to represent them 2 the royal flag of France (fleur-de-lis) in making decisions at the different levels 3 symbols of (golden lions, roses) of government . is is called a representative 4 symbols of Scotland (red lion, thistles, unicorn) 5 2 democracy . Countries like Canada, the 5 symbols of Ireland (harp, shamrocks) of America and the 6 Canadian symbols ( leaves) United Kingdom all have representative 7 symbols of monarchy (crowns, royal helmet) 6 8 the words (in Latin) desiderantes meliorem patriam , 8 . which means they desire a better country 9 Before European people came to Canada, 9 the words (in Latin) , which many different Aboriginal people governed means from sea to sea 5 their regions using many different political 4 systems, including a democratic one . 3 TALK ABOUT IT WORD BUILDER R e word democracy Students in your class may come from comes from the Greek word demos (mean - TALK ABOUT IT many different countries. Are these coun - ing the people ) and kratos (meaning rule ). What symbols identify you? Your family? tries democracies? How many of your Early forms of democracy began around Your community? Look around your classmates have experience with other 2,500 years ago, in Athens and other Greek neighbourhood. Can you see symbols that political systems? How are they similar to cities. identify other people or things? Make a democracies? How are they different? Using a dictionary, look up some other list of these symbols. List the other symbols

DID YOU KNOW? R Creating o5cial designs for words that start with demo . List them with your classmates collected. Do you all coats of arms is the responsibility of the Canadian your class. ink about what they mean. agree on what the symbols mean? Heraldic Authority. The Governor General is in charge of this organization. 8 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:47 PM Page 9

WORD BUILDER R Aboriginal peoples Confederation and Canada (which became Canada became a nation, the of the provinces of and ). e People have lived in Canada for at least Canada, in 1867. Before that, British North BNA Act described the structure and main 12,000 years. In Canada, we usually describe America was made up of a few provinces , laws of the new country, as well as the the ancestors of these first peoples as the vast area of Rupert’s Land (privately division of powers between the new Aboriginals . ere are three main groups owned by the Hudson’s Company), provinces and the federal government . of Aboriginal people in Canada. and the North-Western . By 1864, • people live all across the many leaders felt that it would be good to country in cities, on traditional lands and join into one country. Known as the Fathers on reservations (land reserved for them). of Confederation , these leaders met and wrote a constitution for the new country, • people live in the Far North, and which had to be passed by the Parliament they share ancestors with the Aboriginal of the United Kingdom. Once passed, it peoples of Siberia, Alaska and Greenland. became known as the British • Métis people have a combination of an - Act , or the BNA Act . is Act brought cestors of First Nations and European together the three provinces of , origin.

THINK ABOUT IT CANADA IN >ECD — Canada was much smaller in 1867. Does your school have a student council? It included only four provinces: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Where do you live? Was How do you decide which students will Photo reproduced with the permission it part of Canada in 1867? of Natural Resources Canada 2008, courtesy of the Atlas of Canada represent you? What decisions does a

student council have to make? Why is it DID YOU KNOW? R The rest of Canada’s provinces 1867 Ontario, Quebec, 1873 important that you have a representative? and joined Confederation (became a part of New Brunswick, 1898 Territory the country) at later dates: Nova Scotia 1905 , We have had a type of democracy in Canada since the 1870 , 1949 Newfoundland and mid-1300s! Did you know that the Iroquois Confederacy in Canada was the first democracy in North America? 1999 1871

1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

SECTION 1 Canada: The Road to Democracy 9 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:47 PM Page 10

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1 THIS PAINTING, CALLED “” is based Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s on the original, “Meeting of the Delegates of .” first Prime Minister The men shown here helped make the final agreement that created House of Commons Collection, Ottawa Canada. After years of political debate , there were three historic 2 meet ings in , and London, England to Sir George-Étienne Cartier decide the future creation of Canada. 3 Thomas D’Arcy McGee The artist, Robert Harris, worked mostly from photographs of the men.

THINK ABOUT IT DID YOU KNOW? R The original painting by Robert Harris burned Why are there no women during the fire that destroyed most of the of the in this painting? Parliament Buildings in 1916. Today, the tribute copy of it, by Rex Woods, hangs in a room at Parliament. The major di6erences between the two are: a portrait of Robert Harris on the right and three more delegates to the London Conference of 1866 (who were o5cially recognized in 1927) were added.

Charlottetown Quebec City 10 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:47 PM Page 11

THE QUEEN IS SIGNING THE CONSTITUTION ACT, >FE?. 1 the Honourable (Minister of Labour) 2 the Right Honourable 1 3 (Prime Minister ) 3 the Honourable Michael Pitfield ( of the Privy Council) 4 the Honourable Michael Kirby The Constitution 4 (Secretary to the Cabinet for Federal-Provincial Relations and The Constitution is the highest law in 2 5 Clerk of the Privy Council) Canada. It includes several different laws, 5 Queen Elizabeth II decisions by judges, agreements between Based on Robert Cooper, Canada. Office of the Prime Minister Collection, Library and Archives Canada, e02282980 the federal and provincial , and traditions. e main written parts of th e Constitution o f Canada are the Consti tu - WORD BUILDER R Many words can be tion Act, 1867 (this used to be called changed from a verb to a noun by adding the British North America Act ) and the WORD BUILDER -ment : Constitution Act, 1982 . NOUN VERB ADJECTIVE • amend © amendment colony colonize colonial Constitution Act, 1982 • govern © government govern governable In 1982 , the Queen and the Right Honourable symbol symbolize symbolic • argue (careful of the e!) © Pierre Trudeau, Prime Minister, signed the Constitution Act, 1982 , which includes the • Try using some of these words in sen - • assess © British North America Act and the Canadian tences. Notice the endings on the adjec - • assign © Charter of Rights and Freedoms . tives: -ial , -able , -ic . • See if you can fill in the table with some Brainstorm with your class. What other WHAT ABOUT ME? of these other nouns: contact, collection, words follow this pattern? Try using both List some of the rules o r laws that affect identity, democracy. the verbs and the new nouns in sentences. you. Does your family or your school have rules? Are these rules written down? Who is responsible for enforcing the rules? Are these rules easy to change? What would The Constitution Act is di5cult to change. For some parts of the Act , happen if the rules were easy to change? the Senate , the House of Commons and all provinces must agree to any amendments (changes). Other parts can be changed with the agreement of the Senate , the House of Commons and at least seven provinces with more than 50% of the total population of all the provinces.

SECTION 1 Canada: The Road to Democracy 11 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 5:08 PM Page 12

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2 CANADIAN CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS 1 the Canadian coat of arms 2 the flag of Canada 3 the Parliament Buildings (Centre Block) 4 signature of the Right Honourable Pierre Trudeau (Prime Minister in 1982)

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms TALK ABOUT IT What rights are most important to you e Canadian Charter of Rights and and to your family and friends? Although Freedoms forms the first part of the most human rights are protected in Constitution Act, 1982 . Here are some pro- Canada, sometimes citizens challenge the 3 tections that the Charter guarantees: Charter’s interpretation of these rights. • freedom of religion, of thought, Look in the newspaper. Can you find stories of expression, of the press and about these challenges? of peaceful assembly

• the right to participate in political WORD BUILDER : Look closely at this word: activities and the right to a democratic government FREEDOM e word divides into two – free and dom. 4 • the freedom to move around and live e word free comes from the old German within Canada, and to leave Canada frei (meaning beloved) and the Sanskrit • legal rights such as the right to life, priyah (beloved); -dom is sometimes added liberty and security to the end of a word to make it a noun (wisdom, kingdom). What other words • equality rights contain the word free? • language rights

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SECTION 1 Canada: The Road to Democracy 13 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/18/09 3:25 PM Page 14 Canada’s System of Government

SECTION Overview of the Canadian 2 Parliamentary System Three branches work together to govern Canada: the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The executive branch (also called the Government) is the decision- making branch, made up of the Monarch represented by the Governor General, the Prime Minister, and the Cabinet. The legislative branch is the law-making branch, made up of the appointed Senate and the elected House of Commons. The judicial branch is a series of independent courts that interpret the laws passed by the other two branches. Parliament itself is made up of the following three parts: the Monarch, the Senate and the House of Commons. Canada is a , which means that we recognize the Queen or King as the , while the Prime Minister is the .

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in nicipal level (from the Lat he Latin e mu e provincial level (from t f a  palis, meaning of a citizen o Levels of Government man rule: munici The Three provincia, meaning under Ro main levels of ng, free town). Canada has three ro, to be in favour of somethi from p that is erri- s is the level of government government. incere, to conquer) and the t i and v district foedus, ean- ually based in a city, town or federal level (from the Latin l level (from the Latin terra, m us e toria rnments municipality). Municipal gove aning league). land). (a me ing such as are responsible for areas with inces in Canada, evel of government deals In each of the 10 prov water sys- is l ibraries, parks, community nt is responsible l f law listed in the Consti- the provincial governme d parking. areas o ems, local police, roadways an Constitution Act, t n Act, 1867 and that for areas listed in the hese areas tutio ey receive authority for t ion, health care, ally affect the whole 1867, such as educat ents. gener from the provincial governm ral resources, and road regu- country. (See list some natu and - the country there are also b ometimes they share respon Across on next page.) lations. S ions t. ls, which govern First Nat ith the federal governmen counci sibility w cils n unities. ese elected coun e territories have their ow comm e thre and t ilar to municipal councils ents, with responsibilities tha are sim governm local ral decisions that affect their are given to them by the fede make ities. government. commun

Nation — Federal Level Province/Territory — Provincial/Territorial Level vel Municipality — Municipal Le

SECTION 2 Canada’s System of Government 15 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/16/09 9:38 AM Page 16

The Division of Powers The federal government tries to make WORD BUILDER The federal level of government has powers things fairer among the provinces. NOUN ADJECTIVE RELATED WORDS that are different from those of provincial Through equalization payments (extra federal confederation governments, including: money) given to provinces that are less federalize wealthy, the federal government tries federate to make sure that the standards of federalism health, education and welfare are the same for every Canadian. In the same way that it lists the WHAT ABOUT ME? powers of the federal government, the The next time you go to a park, notice Constitution Act,1867 lists the powers which level of government is managing it: of the provinces, including: federal, provincial or municipal. You can usually tell by the signs at the entrance. Do • direct taxes you notice any differences between these • hospitals parks? Think about their location and what services and activities they have. Look at • prisons the website. Why do you • education think these national parks were created? How about provincial parks? City parks? • marriage

• property and civil rights

The Act also says that the power over agriculture and immigration should be shared between the federal and pro vincial governments.

The federal government makes decisions that affect Canadians every day.

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Running for o3ce takes dedication and lots of hard work. Some candidates run Canada ’s many times before they win an election. S ECTION Once the candidates are elected, they will spend part of the year in Ottawa, and part @ Democracy in Action of the year in their home ridings.

Elections On Election Day, the candidate who gets According to the Constitution Act , national the most votes becomes a Member of elections must be held at least once every Parliament (MP) and represents his or her five years to decide who will represent riding in the House of Commons in Canadians in the House of Commons . Ottawa. e party with the most number WORD BUILDER R In the world of politics, Canada is divided into areas called of elected MPs across the country usually the verb to run has a specific meaning. To ridings (also called constituencies or electoral forms the Government . e leader of that run i n an election means that you are com - districts). Canadian citizens vote for the party becomes the Prime Minister . peting with other candidates to represent candidate in their riding they think will your riding. best represent them. In a riding there TALK ABOUT IT! During an election, y ou may hear the may be several different candidates, Find a partner. Talk about other ways the expressions run for office and running in an each from a different or word run is used (examples: running to election . ey both mean to compete in an running independently . catch a bus, running a business, a runny election as a candidate . How does a person become a nose, running out of time). Use a dictionary VERB NOUN ADJECTIVE candidate? First, he or she has to be to find other examples. Write down all the to elect election el ectoral (process, nominated (or chosen) by fellow party uses you can. How would some of these vote, officer) members in his or her riding during a things be expressed in your home language? or elective (surgery) special meeting called a nomination meeting . If more than one person in the party wants e word elect means to choose. Here are to be a candidate for that riding , there is a DID YOU KNOW? R Because each riding should a few sentences with the word elect : represent a relatively fixed number of people vote during the nomination meeting to (approximately 70,000), as the population increases, • She was elected in 2006. decide who it will be. the number o f ridings has to be increased and the boundaries redrawn. In 1867, Canada had only If a person does not belong to a party, • An election will be held this year. 4 provinces and 181 ridings. In 2009, with 10 provinces then he or she can run for election in his and 3 territories, the number of ridings was 308. • He is the Chief Electoral O2cer . or her riding as an independent candidate .

SECTION 3 Canada’s Democracy in Action 17 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:48 PM Page 18

Campaigns WORD BUILDER R A teacher can dismiss After an election is called and before the class – that is, the teacher can tell the class day voting takes place (usually called that they can go home. e Governor Election Day), each candidate competes General can dissolve Parliament , which is with the other candidates in the riding to somewhat similar. ese words both start convince voters why he or she is the best with dis- . Take a look at these words: choice. is is called a campaign . A candi - Dissolving Parliament • disable • dissolve date tells voters his or her message in many e Prime Minister asks the Governor different ways: • disappear • disagree General to end (or dissolve) Parliament and call an election . Dissolution (the act of dis - • campaign signs Like the prefix un , dis makes the root word solving) happens when: into its opposite. Try using dis with the • -to-door canvassing following familiar words, then create some • the Government’s fixed four-year • advertising campaigns (on television, sentences with them: advantage, approve, term is complete radio, billboards and in newspapers, believe, colour, comfort, connection, • the Government loses a vote on for example) courage, engage, infect, illusion, satisfy, re - certain important bills – on the spect. • public meetings budget , for example – in the Sometimes, the dis word is used more than House of Commons • debates the root: disgust, for example. e root gust (which is associated with the sense of • a majority of MPs vote to defeat Many of these activities cost money. taste) is not as familiar to English speakers the Government in the House of ere are rules about how much money as disgust . Commons on a vote of confidence , candidates are allowed to spend on cam - including a vote against certain paigns, and how much money people are important government measures allowed to give to candidates. or bills , such as the budget Of course, to do all this work, candidates have several people helping them. ese Even with the fixed four-year term , people are called campaign workers . People an election could still be held after the of any age, including youth, can help out Government loses an important vote in the on campaigns. House of Commons .

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. THESE ARE CAMPAIGN SIGNS What things do these signs have in common? What is di6erent? What message do you think each candidate is trying to tell voters?

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WHAT ABOUT ME? Political Parties WORD BUILDER — The word campaign Have you ever participated in an election? Canada has many different political parties. comes from the Latin campus, which Some ways that young people across People in the same party usually have similar means field. In ancient times, armies would Canada get involved in elections are by opinions about public issues. In Parliament, take to the field when they fought. In helping candidates, by bringing up impor- members of different parties often have English, we still use the word campaign to tant issues at public debates and forums different opinions. This is why there are mean a military battle or series of battles. and by expressing their opinions in letters sometimes disagreements during elections We can also use the word race to describe to newspapers. Some issues that are often and when Parliament is sitting. an election competition. Race comes from important to young Canadians are crime, Having different parties allows criticism the Old Norse ras, meaning running water. access to colleges and universities, em- and encourages watchfulness. Canadians Like many words in English, we can use ployment and skills training and equal have a choice in expressing different views race either as a noun or as a verb. rights. Think about what election issues are by voting for a member from a specific important to you. party during election time. This is called NOUN VERB EXAMPLES the party system. race to race She ran a very good race. WHAT ABOUT ME? He raced to You probably have opinions and ideas of the finish line. what would be good for Canada. Think vote to vote about one issue that is important to you form to form (the environment, immigration, education, act to act or law and order, for example). Research help to help some of the major political parties in Canada to find out where they stand on WORD BUILDER your issue. Which one do you think has the • issue • policy best ideas? Imagine you are creating a political party. What issues are important? • idea • opinion

These words are difficult to explain because they are abstract. Look them up in a dictionary if you do not know them. Can you use these words in a sentence? 20 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:49 PM Page 21

Voting Voters make an X beside the name of A Canadian citizen who is 18 years of age the candidate they prefer. en they fold or older by Election Day can vote after he up the ballot and place it into a ballot box. The minimum age to run in an election is 18 years old. or she has registered with Elections If they incorrectly mark a ballot, or The youngest person ever Canada. will then send mark more than one name, that is called a elected to Parliament was Claude-André Lachance, out a voter information card and add him spoiled ballot and it will not be counted. who was 20 years old or her to the voters’ list. Citizens can vote even if they are when he was elected in 1974. On Election Day, most voters go to a travelling away from home or out of the nearby location called a polling station , country on Election Day. Elections Canada where their names are checked off the has information on how to vote by using a voters’ list if they are already registered. If special mail-in ballot. they have not yet registered, they can do so Once the voting ends, the votes are at this time. At the polling station, each collected and added up. is can take a TALK ABOUT IT! voter is given a ballot (a piece of paper listing long time. Television stations have special You or someone in your family probably all the candidates in the riding ). Voters do news programs to report the election know about elections in other countries. not have to tell anyone who they are voting results. Some races are very close and are Ask your family about elections in your for — it is a secret ballot. decided by a small number of votes . country of origin. Here are some questions

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i 3 slot for completed ballot te t candida c of the e litical party l 2 po E the voter 3 circle where oose writes “X” to ch SECTION 3 Canada’s Democracy in Action 21 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:49 PM Page 22

WHAT ABOUT ME? Who is your MP? What riding do you live Forming a Government in? What party does your MP belong to? Do When the election is over, all winning can - you know where your MP’s riding office is? didates are called Members of Parliament , Look it up if you do not know! Your MP or MPs for short. e MPs who belong to has people working in his or her office who parties that are not forming the Government can help you if you have a problem, such are called opposition MPs. e O2cial as difficulty getting a government service, Opposition is usually the party with the or if you have a complaint or question second-highest number of elected members about government . It is your MP’s job to after the winning party. e leader of this listen to all his or her constituents (people party is called the Leader of the O2cial who live in a riding ), even if they did not Opposition . vote for him or her or did not vote at all.

DID YOU KNOW? R Canada’s first Prime Minister , THINK ABOUT IT the Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald (pictured at right), called the Senate a place of Elders often have a lot of experience to “sober second thought.” share. Sometimes we call this wisdom. House of Commons Collection, Ottawa How are elders treated in your family and When it is time for Parliament to sit, all community? Parliamentarians will discuss and debate new bills (proposed laws ), and make WORD BUILDER decisions that affect every Canadian. For SENATE more information on bills , see Process of is word comes from the Latin senix , Passing a Bill in Section 4. meaning elder . Literally, it means a council of elders .

HOUSE OF COMMONS I work in the Parliament Buildings. When Parliament is in session , the Senators and MPs are in town. e word commons comes from the Latin They meet to discuss issues and policy, and to debate communis , which means shared by many . bills, both in the Chambers and in committee. Other related words are community, com - munication and commune. 22 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 5:08 PM Page 23

e Business of Parliament

SECTION 4 The Governor General WORD BUILDER has two o)cial homes where GOVERN – from the Greek word kybernan, he or she lives and works: The Role of the Monarch meaning to steer a ship (the same root as in Ottawa, not far Canada’s Monarch (King or Queen) is also from , and the word cyber). Govern is a verb: e King the Citadelle in Quebec City. Monarch of 15 other independent nations. governed well and wisely. Can you think of e Monarch, on the advice of the Prime other words that stem from govern? Minister, appoints a Canadian to represent him or her in Canada. is person is called MONARCHY – from the Greek monarkhia, the Governor General. meaning ruling of one. It contains two e Governor General has several duties parts: mono-, which means one, and The Two-Chamber System: related to Parliament. He or she officially arkhein, which means to rule. Mono is used The Senate and appoints the Prime Minister as Head of often in English. ink of these words: the House of Commons Government, and opens a new session of • monopoly Canada has a bicameral parliamentary Parliament with the • monotonous system (the prefix bi- means two). at in the Senate Chamber. is is a ceremonial • monologue means that there are two separate Chambers, speech, written by the Privy Council Office, -archy sometimes ends words that describe each housing its own separate group of in which the Governor General describes how something is ruled. For example: parliamentarians: the Senate (p. 24) and the the goals of the new government. He or she • anarchy House of Commons (p. 26). also officially dissolves Parliament, and gives • hierarchy to bills passed in Parliament. DID YOU KNOW? : The Senate e role of the Governor General also and the House of Commons are includes: also called the and the . Another way • serving as Commander-in-Chief of DID YOU KNOW? The Stanley Cup, the highest prize to talk about either of these places Canada (of the Canadian Forces) in the National Hockey League, is to say "Chamber" or "House." • hosting foreign dignitaries, and visiting was a gift from Canada’s sixth Governor General, other countries at the request of the Baron (Lord) Stanley of Preston Prime Minister (served 1888–1893). The trophy was originally named the “Dominion • celebrating excellence by giving Hockey Challenge Cup.” awards to outstanding Canadians

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The Senate DID YOU KNOW? — The Mace is the tradi- Senators are appointed by the Governor tional symbol of the Senate’s and ’s authority. Notice how it has a crown at the top? Once the Mace General on the Prime Minister’s recom- is laid on the Table, the Senate is officially in session.

mendation. The formula for the number SENATE CHAMBER and distribution of Senators was written 1 Throne (This is where the Monarch or the Governor into the Constitution. In 1867, the Senate Chamber Business General sits to read the Speech from the Throne, which started with 72 members, but this increased The Senate has an important role in the tells Canadians what to expect during a new session of Parliament, and gives Royal Assent.) debates as the country’s population and geography law-making process: it reviews and 2 Speaker of the Senate grew. In 2009, the number of seats in the bills proposed by both Chambers. Although 3 Clerk of the Senate and the Senate was 105. A Senator must be at least Senators usually consider bills proposed 4 Page 30 years old and must retire on his or her by the House of Commons, they also 5 Senators th 75 birthday. suggest new bills (but these bills cannot be 6 Mace about spending public money or creating 7 Murals (scenes from the First World War, 1914–1918) PROVINCE/TERRITORY SENATORS taxes). Bills must pass through both 8 Red carpet (red for monarchy) British Columbia 6 Chambers — the Senate and the House of 9 Usher of the Black Rod Alberta 6 Commons — and be given Royal Assent Saskatchewan 6 before becoming law. Manitoba 6 All debates that take place Ontario 24 in the Senate are recorded As Senate pages, we get to see the action Quebec 24 and published in both official up close. We are all university students: only 15 of us are chosen every year. New Brunswick 10 languages. In addition, Sena- I handle official documents and give Nova Scotia 10 tors present petitions, table messages to the Senators when they are in Prince Edward Island 4 documents, discuss committee session and in committee. Take a look at the picture on the next page Newfoundland & Labrador 6 reports and make statements and see if you can find one of us! Yukon Territory 1 in the Chamber. Northwest Territories 1 Nunavut 1 DID YOU KNOW? — TOTAL 105 The Governor General can and does enter the Senate Chamber, but by tradition does not go into the House of Commons. That is why the Speech from the Throne and the Royal Assent ceremony happen in the Senate.

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The House of Commons Usually it is th e Government that e House of Commons is the elected law- introduces bills, but Opposition and making body in Parliament. When MPs individual MPs can also introduce new

meet together in the House of Commons bills (called Private Member’s bills ), so long COMMONS CHAMBER Chamber i n Ottawa, we say that the House as th e bills do not involve taxes. e House 1 Speaker of the House of Commons is in session or is sitting . is also where the budget esti mates for each 2 Clerk of the House of Commons How is the seating of MPs in the House ministry or area o f government services are 3 Page of Commons arranged? In the House of debated and passed. 4 Government Members Commons Chamber, p oliticians from the 5 Opposition Members (the O5cial Opposition along with MPs from other parties and independent MPs) same party normally sit together. e 6 Prime Minister (the leader of the governing party) governing party sits to the right of the WORD BUILDER R Some English words can 7 Mace (the symbol of authority of the Speaker of the House Speaker of the House of Commons . e be used as nouns or as verbs. of Commons . The Mace is placed on the Table and points O2cial Opposition sits directly opposite NOUN VERB towards the Government to show that the House is sitting .) the government . Where the members of bill to bill someone 8 Green carpet (The green colour of Canada’s House of Commons is the same as that used in the House of the other opposition parties sit depends on EXAMPLES: e health care bill passed Commons in England for well over 300 years.) the number of MPs elected from each party. second . e parliamentary restaurant Chamber Business will bill him for the dinner. e work of an MP in the Chamber report to report includes reviewing and debating new bills EXAMPLES: e House committee’s report that affect all Canadians. It also includes was very detailed. s 0 e 6 0 v i taking part in , making e Senator will report back 8 7 h 9 5 c 1 8 r , 1 ) y A - l 0 statements about important events and to the committee. l A d 5 o P 9 n K - , a 6 y a y 8 a d riding r

issues from the , raising issues and study to study C a R a r . n G t b a i g G C L S presenting recommendations and reports. EXAMPLES: e study shows that ( The Hon. Canadians like their flag. Muriel McQueen The Rt. Hon. Fergusson Jeanne Sauvé e Prime Minister studied As House of Commons pages, we handle law in university. DID YOU KNOW? R The first woman to take the chair o5cial documents and give messages to MPs in either the Senate or the House of Commons, the while they are in the Chamber or in their committee Honourable Muriel McQueen Fergusson (left), was meetings. There are 40 of us in total, and Create sentences using these words: Speaker of the Senate from 1972 to 1974. we are first-year university students. The first and only female Speaker of the House of change to change Can you see where we usually sit Commons was the Right Honourable Jeanne when the House is in session ? (see page 27) hold to hold Sauvé (right), who served as Speaker from 1980 to pass to pass 1984. She then became the first female Governor General of Canada, appointed from 1984 to 1990. 26 SECTION 4 The Business of Parliament ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:50 PM Page 27

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SENATE SPEAKER’S CHAIR 1 This chair is for the Speaker . The Prime Minister The Cabinet 2 This one is for th e Monarch or the Governor General. In Canada, the leader of the political party e Prime Minister chooses members of 3 This one is for the Monarch’s or Governor General’s consort (husband or wife). that wins the most seats in the House the Cabinet . ese are usually elected MPs When t he Monarch or the Governor General attends the of Commons becomes Prime Min - (and at least one Senator ), and normally Senate, such as for the Speech from the Throne or Royal ister. (is is in contrast to some belong to the party in power. ose Assent, the Speaker’s chair is removed. countries, where citizens vote to who head government departments elect their leader directly, such as are called Ministers . By custom, each WHAT ABOUT ME? the President in the United States.) province has at least one Cabinet e work of the federal government is done e Prime Minister is usually an MP Minister . As Canada has grown and through departments (or ministries) and who, after winning the election , is officially changed, the Cabinet has also grown and agencies. Here are some examples of sworn in by the Governor General . evolved, with ministries sometimes being fed eral departments’ areas of responsibility: renamed, added, dropped or reorganized. the environment, citizenship and immi - TALK ABOUT IT! e Cabinet takes collective responsibility gration, foreign affairs, defence and natural Who is th e ? for government policies. It must, in public, resources. Which department affects you What skills should a prime minister have? agree with the government’s decisions or the most? Which ones would you most like Would you make a good prime minister? resign. to work for? What other countries have prime ministers? Pre sidents? Both? THINK ABOUT IT WORD BUILDER A hundred years ago, Canada had a Min - istry of Railways and Canals and a Ministry MINISTER – from the Latin minister , mean - WORD BUILDER of Overseas Military Forces. Why do these ing servant . is word has the same root as PRIME – from the Latin primus , meaning departments no longer exist? Some newer minor . Related words include administer first . Here are some other words and departments include Environment Canada (administration, administrator) and minor phrases that contain prime: and Public Safety Canada. (meaning less or little ). • primary CABINET DID YOU KNOW? R There is a person called the – originally, this word meant • prime-time television for each political party in the Senate and the small room . Today, it sometimes means House of Commons. He or she makes sure that Mem - a cupboard or a piece of furniture where • prime number bers from the party know what is going on in the Chamber, and that they are present when there is an objects can be stored. In Parliament, important vote. In practice, the whips also assign each it means the group of Ministers appointed party’s members to . by the Governor General at the request of the Prime Minister. 28 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:51 PM Page 29

The Speakers by secret ballot which one e Senate and the House of Commons of them will be speaker. each has a Speaker . e Speaker represents All questions dur ing his or her Chamber when dealing with the debate in the House of other parts of Parliament (the Monarch or Commons are directed Governor General, the Senate and the through the Speaker. 3 House of Commons). Each speaker is also Whenever a Senator or 2 1 responsible for making sure that rules of an MP enters, crosses or order are followed when his or h er Chamber leaves the Chamber, he or she is sitting. bows to the Speaker’s chair . e Speaker of the Senate is Speakers must be neutral and fair. appointed by the Governor General For example, th e Speaker of the House on the advice of the Prime Minister, of Commons must be prepared to usually for the life of th e Parliament. enforce the same rules for the Prime Minister as for a Member of an opposition party. Although HOUSE OF COMMONS SPEAKER’S CHAIR the Speaker of the House of On page 27, notice where the chair is put in the room. Why is this? Commons is an elected MP, he or she does not vote on d ecisions unless there is a tie. e Speaker of the Senate enforces e speakers have important (makes sure a rule is followed) the Senate diplomatic and social duties out - rules about the order of speaking and the side Parliament. T hey are often length of time a Senator gets to speak, and asked to represent Canada at announces the result of votes. important international events Electing a Speaker of the House of and meetings. e speakers Commons is the first thing the also meet and host foreign House of Commons does dignitaries and ambassadors. when beginning a new Parliament. MPs choose

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1 FIRST READING 4 REPORT STAGE Process of Passing a Bill Any idea for a ne w law or a change to At th e Report Stage, the com - Making laws is tough work. current law i s written down. e idea is mittee reports the bill back to Every day, something that you do now called a bill . e bill is printed and the House. All parliamentarians or that you touch has been read in the House it is starting from. can then debate it. During this considered by a lawmaker. stage, those who were not part of But how does an idea 2 SECOND READING the committee that studied the bill get to be a law that e bill i s given a Second Reading in can suggest changes to the bill. affects everyone? the House it is starting from , wher e parlia - e following steps mentarians debate the idea behind the 5 THIRD READING describe the process of bill. ey consider questions such as, e bill is then called for a ird passing a bill through either “Is the idea behind the bill g ood?” Reading. e parliamentarians the House of Commons or the “Does it meet people’s needs?” debate it again. Sometimes they Senate. (If the bill were to pass “Who will be affected by this bill?” can change their minds about a bill. through the Senate, it would go If the House votes for th e bill and it ey might vote for it at Second through the same stages.) passes this stage, it goes to a committee Reading but not at ird Reading if e government typically introduces of the House, which usually meets they do not like the changes made bills. Opposition and individual parlia - in a smaller committee room to the bill. If it passes ird mentarians also introduce new bills (called outside the Chamber. Reading, the bill th en goes to Private Member’s Bills) . the other House where it goes 3 COMMITTEE STAGE through the same stages. At the Committee S tage, the bill DID YOU KNOW? R If a bill originates in the Senate, the bill is identified with the letter S and given a number; for is studied carefully. Committee 6 ROYAL ASSENT example, Bill S- @. If a Bill originates in the House of mem bers hold hearings or special Once bot h the Senate and the Commons, it is identified with the letter C and given a number; for example, Bill C- AB. meetings where different people House of Commons have passed the inside and outside government bill in exactly the same wording, it is

TALK ABOUT IT! can make comments about the bill. given to the Governor General (or Take a walk around your neighbourhood. e committee can ask for government his or her appointe d representative ) What do you see that needs changing? officials and experts, or witnesses , for Royal Assent (final approval), How can you change things, or get your to come and answer questions. e and it can become law. government to change them? Talk to committee can suggest changes or members of your family and your friends. amendments to the bill when it gives What issues are important to them? its report to the House. 30 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:51 PM Page 31

What happens when a bill doesn’t pass? A bill keeps going back and forth for a vote on the changes until it passes both Houses in the same format.

e par De A parliamentary liamentary bate in Chamber comm Reading of the committee examines ittee reports on Debate and vote and vote on the th title of the bill the Good Idea Bill e Good Idea Bill. on the changed idea behind the (e Good Idea Bill) line by line in Amendments are con- version of the Good Idea Bill committee. sidered and voted on. Good Idea Bill

A parliamentary Debate and vote ebate and vote e parliamentary Reading of D committee examines on the changed e idea of the committee reports on the Good Idea Bill on th the Good Idea Bill version of ea Bill the Good Idea Bill. the Good Id line by line in Goo ts are con- d Idea Bill committee. Amendmen sidered and voted on.

e Good Idea Bill receives Royal Assent after being DID YOU KNOW? R Durin g the ceremony to receive Royal Assent, bills that have to do with taxes and financial matters passed by both Houses are tied with a green ribbon; all others are tied with a red one. (the Senate and the House of Commons).

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WORD BUILDER R Bot h Senators a nd MPs On the Job with a Senator Senators t ake part in meetings. All work on committees . You probably have Whe n Parliament is in session, Senators these meetings mean serious research and committees at your school. e root of this spend much of their time in Ottawa. During preparation. word comes from commit — from the the week, they debate and vote on bills in Senators also like to meet the people Latin word committere , com- (together ) and the Senate Chamber. Much of their work, they represent in their regions. Between mittere (to put , or send ). however, is done outside the Chamber. Chamber debates, committee work, Senators often sit on at least two different meetings and travel, they try to find time NOUN VERB committees, as well as subcommittees. In to make public speeches and attend im - a commitment to commit committee, Senators work hard to under - portant national and international events. a committee stand all details of a proposed bill: they Senators have many years of experience Here are some sentences: hear evidence from groups and individuals in the working world. ey may have had who will be affected by the proposed prominent careers in politics, medicine, • e Senator is busy; she has a legislation and recommend changes. Mem - the military, law, sports, journalism, edu - commitment thi s afternoon. bers of the committees also review budgets cation or business. eir rich backgrounds • He sits on the Human Rights and investigate issues that are important to make them experts in their fields. is committee. Canadians, such as health care, children’s helps them make decisions about bills that rights and official languages. Committees the government wants to pass, or to advise • MPs commit many hours to also report on those issues. In addition, the government on ne w or better policies. committee w ork.

e prefix com- or con- , meaning together , is a common one in English. Senate — SAMPLE CALENDAR Write down all of the words you can think of that start with com or con . What do they mean? Is there a connection?

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A Day in the Life needs to be examined. MPs also spend time WORD BUILDER of a Member of Parliament in caucus every Wednesday morning, Constituent, from the same root as con- In addition to their work in the Chamber, where they discuss strategy and ideas for stitution, means a part of. In politics, a MPs have many responsibilities. They are laws with the rest of the Senators and MPs constituent is a person a politician represents. accountable (must answer) to the people from the same political party. who voted for them. At the same time, they While in their home ridings, they must follow their party leader. While Par- attend events and meet with people and liament is in session, MPs typically spend organizations to listen to their concerns. Monday to Thursday in Ottawa, and Fridays At their offices in their home ridings and and weekends in their riding, although this in Ottawa, they have a group of people can change depending on their meeting who help them set up meetings, and prepare schedules and on Parliament’s business. for debates and committee meetings. When MPs are in Ottawa and Parliament These researchers and administrators are is sitting, there is a routine schedule to follow called staff. called the Daily Order of Business. MPs While Parliament is in session, the spend a set amount of time in the Chamber, House has a daily schedule. An average in their offices and in committees. week looks like this: Like Senators, MPs work on committees to examine proposed House of Commons — DAILY ORDER OF BUSINESS WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY bills in detail and to investigate is- HOURS MONDAY TUESDAY Government Orders 10:00 - 11:00 sues. They also hear witnesses and Statements by Members 11:00 – 11:15 Private Members’ report back to the House with their Business Routine Proceedings oral questions 11:15 – 12:00 Routine Proceedings Government Orders findings and recommendations. 12:00 – 1:00 Government Orders Routine Proceedings Government Orders Some committees are permanent 1:00 – 1:30 Government Orders Review of Delegated Legislation* (these are called Standing Commit- 1:30 – 2:00 Private Members’ Statements Statements Statements Business tees), and consider very important is- Statements by Members 2:00 – 2:15 by Members by Members by Members sues such as the environment or oral questions 2:15 – 2:30 oral questions oral questions oral questions immigration. Other committees are 2:30 – 3:00 Routine Proceedings formed (or struck) if a temporary issue Notices of Motions Government Orders for the Production Government Orders 3:00 – 5:30 Routine Proceedings of Papers Government Orders Government Orders

Private Members’ Private Members’ Private Members’ 5:30 – 6:30 Business Business Business Adjournment Adjournment Adjournment Adjournment Proceedings 6:30 – 7:00 Proceedings Proceedings Proceedings * If required, House to sit at 1:00 p.m. for the review of Delegated Legislation pursuant to Standing Order 128(1). 33 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:52 PM Page 34

DID YOU KNOW? TALK ABOUT IT! When there is a vote in either the e liveliest part of the day in the House of Senate or the House of Commons, Commons is question period (al so called oral bells ring and the lights in the Parliamentary precinct blink on and questions ), where the government MPs must o6. It is an important job to get all answer questions from other Members. You the parliamentarians to the House can watch some of question period with your when a vote is called. The person responsible for doing this is the class. (question period and other House of . Commons business are shown on television as well as recorded in , the word-for- word record of all discussion in th e House of Commons.) How do parliamentarians behave? Why is this so? How can you tell? What are other MPs doing while questions are asked?

DID YOU KNOW? R If you are touring the Parliament buildings, you may be able to visit th e Senate and the House of Commons Chambers. When the Chambers are sitting, yo u may even 34 observe from the galleries and watch democracy in action. ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/18/09 3:26 PM Page 35

THINK ABOUT IT! Why do you think it is important for Parliament 24/7 Canadians to have access to a record of everything that is said in the House? In 1977, Canadians were the first people in the world who were able to watch live televised broadcasts of debates and proceed- ings in their Parliament. Today, with modern technology, there are many more ways to keep up with what is happening at Parliament, right where you live. On TV and on the Internet, you can watch Cable Public Affairs Channel’s broadcasts of the Senate and House of Commons committee work, and of question period in the House of Commons. You can also listen to podcasts. On the website, there are also webcasts of proceedings in the Senate and the House of Commons. If there is a bill or an issue that really interests you, you can follow every stage of that legislation on the website.

DID YOU KNOW? Many Senators and MPs have their own personal website. Use a search engine and look up your Senator or MP and see what they are doing!

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Your Capital SECTION B Citizens elect different people from their communities to different levels of government to make laws . ese lawmakers, or politicians, meet regularly to talk about curren t laws and to make new ones. ey do this in a place called the capital . Ottawa, the nationa l capital of Canada, is where federal politicians meet.

WHAT ABOUT ME? Sometimes, in newspapers or on television news programs, people will say things like: “Ottawa sends soldiers” or “Ottawa makes TALK ABOUT IT! a decision.” Of course, they do not mean the All Canadian provinces and territories have city of Ottawa; they mean the Government capitals. Can you name them? (See answers of Canada. Ottawa is the country’s capital. below.) What is the capital of your province It is your capital. Look in a newspaper and or territory? Is it the biggest city? notice how the word Ottawa is used. Is the article talking about something that affects

you or your family?

e s r o h e t i h W y r o t i r r e T n o k u DID YOU KNOW? Y

a n i g e R n a w e h c t a k s a

The name Ottawa (or adawe in Algonquin) means S

y t i C c e b e u Q c e b e u

to trade and was the name given to the First Nations Q

n w o t e t t o l r a h C d n a l s I d r a w d E e c n i r

people who controlled trade along the river. P o t n o r o T o i r a t n O

t i u l a q I t u v a n u N

x a f i l a H a i t o c S a v o N

e f i n k w o l l e Y s e i r o t i r r e T t s e w h t r o

N There is always something going on at the s ’ n h o J . t S r o d a r b a L & d n a l d n u o f w e

N Parliament Buildings, even when the Senate and n o t c i r e d e r F k c i w s n u r B w e N

g e p i n n i W a b o t i n a M the House of Commons are not sitting .

a i r o t c i V a i b m u l o C h s i t i r

B Meetings, committees , o5cial visits and receptions

n o t n o m d E a t r e b l

A occur every day, and the work of researchers is constant.

L A T I P A C Y R O T I R R E T T E C N I V O R

P About 3,756 people work here! 36 SECTION 5 Your Capital ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:53 PM Page 37 g n e h C e n o M –

Why Ottawa? WORD BUILDER R t

Some words have two On the Hill n e m a i Choosing a capital parts, like lawmaker (law + maker). Can e busiest part of is l r a P f city is not easy! you think of other words that use the word Parliament Hill. is is where Senators and o y r a r b Should it be in the law or maker ? Members of Parliament have their offices, i L centre of the country? Should it be the e word capital comes from the Latin meet to mak e laws, and have meetings biggest city? Who decides where a capital word caput , which means head . Capital with advisors and citizens. Parliament Hill should b e? has many different meanings: very serious is a gathering place for Canadians who go In 1857, there were a few cities com - (capital punishment); money (capital in - there for a variety of reasons: to celebrate, peting to be the . To settle it, vestment); and very important (capital to protest, to go on tours and to enjoy the chose Ottawa be cause it letter, capital city). Here are some other beautiful scenery. e Hill is on high was centrally located between the cities of words that come from this same root: to ground next to the . If you and , and was along the cap something; a baseball or bottle cap; look across the water, you can see the border of Ontario and Quebec (the centre captain; caption. province of Quebec. Government offices of Canada at the time). It was also far from e English word citizen comes from the and national institutions are located on the American border, making it safer from Latin word civis , which means a person both sides of the river. attacks. who lives in a city . Other words in this group include city , civic or civilian . Can The Parliament you think of other terms that mean the Buildings same thing as citizen ? Parliament has three main buildings: the , the and the Centre Block . e Centre Block you see today is not the first — the first Centre Block of

ORIGINAL CENTRE BLOCK the Parliament Buildings burned down Before and after the fire of 1916. in 1916. e only part of the Centre Block to survive was the Library of Par - liament, which had fire-proof iron . e East and West Blocks were untouched by the fire.

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LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT • the research centre for 11 parliamentarians and their sta6 • over 600,000 items in the collection • over 350 people work for the Library of Parliament • statue of a young Queen Victoria

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AERIAL VIEW OF PARLIAMENT HILL 1 Centre Block 7 Victoria Building 2 East Block 8 National Press Building 3 West Block 9 The and Locks 4 Library of Parliament 10 5 National War Memorial 11 Statues 6 Langevin Building

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DID YOU KNOW? R The di4erence between gargoyles and grotesques is that gargoyles are 2 usually waterspouts, while grotesques are fanciful and 3 playful carvings. The word gargoyle comes from the French word gargouille, which means throat or pipe .

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2 Joshua BELL Sherurci • bell from the original Centre Block tower • cast in 1875, installed in 1877 • fell from the tower in the 1916 fire • restored in 1998 and on display on Parliament Hill

THE CENTRE BLOCK 1 — 92.2 metres high! 2 the carillon — 53 bells! 3 grotesques — these mythical creatures are Library of Parliament – Malak fanciful and playful carvings 4 observation deck — visitors can look over all of Ottawa and Gatineau from here 5 the flag — the new national flag of Canada with the red maple leaf was first flown in 1965 3 6 Centre Block o5ces — lots of politicians have their o5ces here 7 Memorial Chamber — names of those who died serving in conflicts that Canada participated in are honoured in Books of Remembrance 8 Library of Parliament — opened in 1876

3

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SECTION

6 42 Parliament dians have reliable to follow. rules Because Canada has a has Canada Because Democracy Evolving Parliamentary But sometimes, old But sometimes, 1923 any more. Forsociety example, in may change over time. In turn, Immigration Act, Canada’s of to people doors discussion and discussion Chinese origin. This lawwas origin. Chinese changed in 1947. The democratic sider these issues through issues sider these open system is flexible and allows many levels. As Canadians con- Canadians As many levels. Canadians influenceCanadians Parliament on influence values Canadians’ Parliament ocag asor introduce to change laws Parliament to change old laws new ones. new national events and issues national events and create new ones. and create ones. new National and even inter-National and even passed the Chinese passed constitution debate laws which closed , their ideas do not fit , Cana- in Motion promoting multiculturalism and • (music, arts promoting Canadian • Internet crime • crime street • AIDS such as illnesses • international terrorism • child poverty • environmental concerns • issues? these What might you or your classmates? affect do they below. listed Think the issues about How WHAT ABOUT ME? mandatory? became youth? What and its if voting Canada the affect would lowering theHow voting age again. lowering about talk Canadians to 18. Some lowered was be 21, but in 1970 it to The voting age used Why do you think this was? Canadians. and Japanese Chinese Canadians women, Canadians, Aboriginal such as people — to were not allowed of people groups According of the to the laws time, many laws were different are today. than they the in 1867, a country became When Canada THINK ABOUT IT racial and ethnic preventing intolerance and theatre arts) literature, films, visual television, parliamentarians do about vote opposites? them up in your dictionary.Look Are they interior, income, injury, input, involve, • or Here are with more some words starting icr insincere Careful! incapable sincere • incomplete impolite capable • complete • polite • example. words: Consider these flexible opposite: intoits inflexible, for turns the of a word sometimes into The word WORD BUILDER — Adding an im- – flexible My yoga teacher is very • – flexible My yoga teacher is very • sentences: Consider these occur. you are able to adapt to they changes as floor, for example), that mean or it can ways (touchin certain your hands to the th mean it can flexible, incline, include, investigate, important. Mondays or Wednesdays. not mind if I come on she does her head! behind put her foot she can im : in flex can also mean incoming mean also can . If you are to bend means or an in- LXBE/INFLEXIBLE / FLEXIBLE at you can bend at bend you can to the beginning or into . in ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:54 PM Page 43

school, library or community centre. WORD BUILDER R WING – from is is a great way to meet your Old Norse wenge (meaning wing neighbours and find out what is im - of a bird ). In English, the word wing portant to them. Community organi- means the wing of a bird, but zations have been successful across also something that extends Canada in getting their concerns from a central base. Consider heard by politicians at all levels. these sentences: It is important to talk to your • e collection is Getting Involved in Democracy family about getting involved, too. Find out in the east wing of the museum. e voting age in Canada for a federal elec - their opinions and discuss what issues are • He belongs to the youth wing tion is 18. But voting is not the only way for important to them. Canada’s government of the party. you to get involved. If you feel strongly works because of its citizens , and you are about an issue, there are many ways to ex - never too young to become part of it. Because the places to either side of press your views. Become knowledgeable a the atre’s stage are called the wings , about the issue by reading, researching and TALK ABOUT IT! English also uses some phrases like: interviewing experts. Write to your local What organizations are you part of? • I have no idea what is on the newspaper. Form a council. Send letters to Would you like to be more involved? test; I will just have to wing it. your Senator and your MP to let them How? Does your school have a student (Note: is slang comes know how you feel. ey may want to talk council? How are students elected? What from an actor learning to you more about it. role do they play in the school? How his or her lines in the Helping out in an election c ampaign is could student voices be better heard wings – it means to another good way to get involved, no matter (both in the school and in your com - do something without what your age. You can meet the candidate, munity)? Talk with your classmates being prepared.) help him or her prepare for public events, about these questions. and help organize supporters. Does a political party interest you? Almost all parties have a youth wing that organizes Just because you are too young to vote yet does not mean that events and distributes information. you cannot get involved. Your local community might need your There are several ways to make help — you can volunteer for a community your voice heard and to enact change. association, or for the board of your local

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Glossary

amend – To change Cabinet Minister – A p erson — normally ceremony – A formal event that or improve something; a Member of Parliament or a Senator — follows rules or traditions. for example, a law or who is chosen by the Prime Minister, and chair – e person in charge of a meeting. an Act of Parliament. appointed by the Governor General, is person directs the discussion of to help govern. A Minister is usually amendment – A change that is made to a business in a Senate or a House of the head of a government department. bill, a motion or a committee report with Commons committee mee ting. e Government Leader in the Senate the intention of improving it. is also a member of the Cabinet. Chamber – One of two large rooms in th e bicameral – Of tw o chambers, Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings. Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms – or rooms. Canada’s Parliament is e Senate Chamber, or the Upper House, An important part of the Canadian made up of two separate Chambers. is where Senators meet to discuss business. constitution that ensures all people in ey are the Senate and the House e Commons Chamber, also called the Canada are guaranteed certain basic of Commons. Lower House, is where Members of Par - human rights and freedoms. liament meet. Traditionally, the Senate bill – A pr oposal for a law to be capital – e city where a country’s Chamber has red furniture and carpet, considered by Parliament. legis lature is located and th e government to signify monarchy, while the House of budget –  e government’s plan for how carries out its business. e capital city of Commons’ furniture and carpet are green, it will collect and spend money each y ear. Canada is Ottawa. Each province and terri - following the tradition set in Britain. also has a capital city and a legislature. Cabinet –  e Cabinet is a group of Chief Electoral O2cer of Canada – is all Ministers (mostly from the caucus – A group made up of all Senators person is responsible for overseeing all House of Commons and at least and Members of Parliament from the same federal elections. one from the Senate). e Cabinet makes political party. meet regularly. citizen – A person who has full political decisions about the Government’s priorities Centre Block – e Parliament Buildings and civil rights in his or her country. and policies, the legislation that will be have three parts (West Block, Centre presented to Parliament, a nd how to Clerk of the House of Commons – Block and East Block). e House of collect and spend money . e senior official in the Commons, and Commons and the Senate Chambers are the main advisor to the Speaker and in the Centre Block. It is recognizable by Members of the House of Commons the Peace Tower with the clock. regarding House rules and procedures . 44 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:54 PM Page 45

Clerk of the Senate – e senior official in constitution – e set of rules that a election – e process of choosing the Senate, and the main advisor to the country like Canada follows to work as a a representative by vote. I n a federal Speaker of the Senate and to Senators nation. It includes the Constitution Acts of election, voters in each riding elect one regarding the Senate’s rules and procedures. 1867 and 1982, but is not limited to them. representative to the House of Commons. e Clerk is also Clerk of the Parlia ments e person who gets the mos t votes constitutional monarchy – A system in and is responsible for all legislation passed represents the riding. which the powers of the Monarch by Parliament. are limited by the written or unwritten federal government – e committee – A group of Senators, constitution of the country. Canada is a that acts Members of Parliament, or both, selected constitutional monarchy. e Queen or and speaks for the whole country. to study a specific subject or bill and King of Canada is our Head of State, governing party – e political party write a report about it. whereas the Prime Minister is our that forms the Government because Head of Government. Confederation – e agreement by more of its members were elected the provinces to join together to form debate – A discussion in which the to the House of Commons than from any the nation of Canada and create a federal arguments for and against a subject other party. Parliament. is happened in 1867 with are presented according to specific Government – e political party with the four present-day provinces: Ontario, rules. Discussions in the Senate and the most members elected to the House of Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. House of Commons are called debates. Commons usually forms the Government. e other six provinces and three dissolution – e bringing to an end In the federal government, the Prime territories joined at later dates. of a Parliament, either at the end of its Minister and the Cabinet decide the constituency – e specific geographic four- year term or if the government is policies and priorities, make sure they area in Canada that a Member of defeated on a motion of non-confidence, are put into action, and also guide the Parliament represents in the House of by proclamation (an official announce - Government’s legislation through the Commons. (Synonym: riding or electoral ment) of the Governor General on the House of Commons and the Senate. district) advice of the Prime Minister. It is Government – e followed by a . constituent – A person living in an area Minister responsible for managing the in Canada represented b y a Member of elect – To pick one person from Government’s business in the House, Parliament. a group of several people by voting. including negotiating the scheduling e person with the most votes of business with the House Leaders of the is elected. opposition parties. (Synonym: Leader of

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the Government in the House liament, Senators and Members Leader of the Government in the Senate – of Commons ) of Parliament use terms such as A Senator appointed by the Prime “Honourable Senator,” “e Minister to lead the Government Governor General – A person Honourable Member for...,” and in the Senate. appointed by our Monarch, on the “Honourable colleague” because tradi - advice of the Prime Minister, to be the Leader of the O2cial Opposition or Leader tionally they are not allowed to call one Monarch’s representative in Can ada. e of the Opposition (House of Commons) – another by name in the Chambers. Governor General is appointed for a term e leader of the political party that of five years. e term may be extended. House Leader – An appointed Member usually has the second-largest number of every party that manages its business in of MPs in th e House of Commons. Hansard – e daily official record the House of Commons. of debates in the Senate and the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate – House of Commons in English and House of Commons – One of three parts e leader of the party in the Senate that French. Hansard was the surname of a of Parliament. MPs meet and debate in usually has the second-largest number of British printer who prepared reports the House of Commons Chamber. seats. e Leader of the Opposition in of parliamentary debates i n 19 th -century the Senate manages his or her party independent – A Member of the England. e Hansard is also called members’ activities in the Senate and Senate or House of Commons who Debates of the Senate and House of in its committees. does not belong to a political party. Commons Debates . legislation – Bills that are passed interest groups – Groups of businesses, Head of Government – In Canada, the by Parliament. associations and people with a common Prime Minister holds the powers of the interest who ask MPs or Senators to speak legislative process – e steps by whic h Head of Government and looks after for them and promote their interests. bills are approved by Parliament and the business of the country. become laws. law – A rule for all Canadians made Head of State – Queen Elizabeth II, the by Senators, Members of Parliament Local government – e council that Queen of Canada, is our Head of State. She and the Governor General through manages the business of a municipality is represented in Canada by the Governor discussion and voting. (village, town or city) that is led by a General. mayor. Council members are elected Leader of the Government in the House of Honourable – A special title given to Sen - by the people living in that area. Commons – Se e ators and Cabinet Ministers for life, and Leader . Lower House – Another name for the to th e Speaker of the House of Commons House of Commons. as long as he or she is the Speaker. In Par - 46 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 1:55 PM Page 47

Mace – A large, heavy, silver- and O2cial Opposition – e political parliamentary democracy – A system of gold-covered staff that is a symbol party that usually has the second- government where the citizens of the power and authority of largest number of MPs elected to express their political views by choosing Parliament. e Senate and the House of the House of Commons. Both the House representatives to go to Parliament to Commons each have a Mace. When the and Senate have an Official Opposition. make laws on their behalf . Senate and the House are in session, the opposition – All political parties and Prime Minister – e leader of the party Maces rest on the Clerk’s Table in each independent Members who do not in power and th e Head of Government. Chamber. belong to the governing party. e Prime Minister is normally an Member of Parliament (MP) – Technically, elected Member of Parliament and oral questions – Another name for members of both the Senate and the House represents a constituency. question period. of Commons are Members of Parliament, private Member – Another name for a but most often this term is used for page – A university student who backbencher: a Member of Parliament someone elected to a seat in the House works for the Senate or the House who does not have an official role in the of Commons. Members of the Senate are of Commons. He or she carries House of Commons . called Senators. Each member of Parlia - messages and delivers documents and ment represents one of the ridings into other material to the Chamber during provincial or territorial government – Each of which Canada is divided. sittings of the Senate or House of Canada’s 10 provinces and three territo - Commons. ries has a legislature that makes laws for monarch – A king or queen of a country. the people living in that province or terri - Parliament – Canada ’s Parliament is com - motion – A proposal by a Member tory. Each legislature is located in the posed of the Monarch, the Senate and the for either the Senate or the House of capital city of the province or territory. House of Commons. Parliament has the Commons to do something, to order power to make laws for Canada in certain question period – A daily period of something to be done, or to express an areas of responsibility. A Parliament is also time in the Senate and House of opinion on a matter. To be considered by the period of time between an election Commons when parliamentarians the Chamber, a motion must be seconded and a dissolution. ask the government q uestions about its by another Member and voted on by all activities or important issues. members. If adopted, a motion becomes parliamentarian – A Senator or a an order or a resolution. Member of the House of Commons.

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reading (of a bill) – A word us ed Royal Assent – e last stage before a sitting – A meeting of the Senate or of the for the stages during which a bill is bill becomes a law. e ceremony of House of Commons within a session. debated in Parliament before it is Royal Assent takes place in the Senate Usually one day long, although a sitting passed to become a law. Chamber and is performed by the can last for only a matter of minutes or Governor General or the Governor may extend over several days. report stage – A step in the passage General’s deputy with Members of the of a bill through both the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons – e House of Commons present. A bill can House of Commons. e Report Stage is Member of Parliament who is elected at also receive Royal Assent at R ideau Hall when the Senate or the House of Commons the beginning of a Parliament by fellow by written declaration. considers the report of the committee MPs to keep order in the House of Com - that has studied a bill, and when changes Senate – e Upper House of mons and to ensure that its rules and tra - to the text of the bill may be proposed. Parliament is made up of 105 ditions are respected. Senators. representative – A person who speaks Speaker of the Senate – e Speaker is ap - for you. Senator – A person appointed to th e pointed by the Governor General on the Upper House of Parliament by the advice of the Prime Minister. e Speaker –  e Government , Governor General on the advice of the keeps order in the Senate and ensures made up of the Prime Minister and Cabi - Prime Minister. A Senator represents a that rules and traditions are respected. net, must have the support of the majority region of Canada. in the House of Commons to stay in Speech from the Throne – A speech power. If the Government loses that sup - Sergeant-at-Arms – e person who delivered by the Monarch or the Governor port on a question of confidence, it must is responsible for the maintenance and General at the start of a new session of resign and ask the Governor security of the buildings used by the staff Parliament. e speech is read in the General to call an election. and Members of the House of Commons, Senate Chamber and describes the including the Chamber. e Sergeant- Government’s plans for the session. riding – Another word for at-Arms also carries the Mace when the constituency or . – e highest Speaker enters and leaves the Commons court in Canada. It has nine justices who Right Honourable – A special title Chamber. are appointed by th e Prime Minister. given to Gene ral, Prime session – e periods into which a Ministers and Chief Justices of the table (verb) – To place a document Parliament is divided. Sessions start with Supreme Court of Canada. e before th e Senate, the House of a Speech from the rone and are ended title can be used for the person’s Commons or a committee for by (suspension) . lifetime, even after retirement. consideration. 48 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/18/09 3:26 PM Page 49

Upper House – Another name for Web Links the Senate. PARLIAMENT OF CANADA Usher of the Black Rod – An officer of the www.parl.gc.ca Senate whose responsibilities include de- PARLIAMENT OF CANADA EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES livering messages to the Commons when www.parl.gc.ca/education its Members’ attendance is required in the Senate Chamber by the Governor TEACHERS INSTITUTE ON CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY General or a deputy of the Governor www.parl.gc.ca/teachers

General. SENATE PAGE PROGRAM vote – To choose a representative in www.parl.gc.ca/senpage

an election. Eligible Canadian HOUSE OF COMMONS PAGE PROGRAM citizens vote for their representatives www.parl.gc.ca/hocpage to the House of Commons by secret ballot PARLIAMENTARY GUIDE PROGRAM during federal elections. In the Senate and www.parl.gc.ca/guides House of Commons, Members can vote either orally or by standing in their places. ELECTIONS CANADA www.elections.ca whip (noun) – The Member of GOVERNOR GENERAL OF CANADA Parliament or Senator in a political www.gg.ca party who is responsible for keeping other party Members informed about the CPAC, CABLE PUBLIC AFFAIRS CHANNEL Chamber’s business and making sure they www.cpac.ca are present in the Chamber, especially when a vote is expected.

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Getting to Know Your Youth Narrators e youth narrators appearing in this book were all real Senate and House of Commons pages and Parliamentary Guides at the time of writing. eir names have been changed to protect their privacy.

Eric I always wear Daniel Julie my name tag Simon Marie and bilingual pin, My favourite thing As a House of Commons Being a page I sometimes like to wear Michelle Can you see about giving tours of the page , you have to stand Isabelle is exciting work: my Filipino Canadian my turquoise earrings? Parliament Buildings I came from British whenever the Speaker I can work as I see important decisions pin too. I wear these to celebrate is meeting people from Columbia to become stands. When I’m not a Senate page get made every day. my Métis heritage all around the world. a House of Commons working in the House, for one or two years. I also see a lot of the while working in I like to let visitors know page. One of the biggest I like going out to We come from all over Parliament Buildings the Senate Chamber . about my home province, challenges of my job is youth groups and telling Canada! while I’m running around! New Brunswick. memorizing all the names them about my job. and ridings of the MPs.

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The printing and distribution of this edition is made possible in part by Canadian Heritage (Government of Canada) and the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy.

A Teacher’s Guide for this publication as well as educational resources on this topic are available at: www.parl.gc.ca/education

Cette publication est disponible en français.

For additional copies or more information contact: Information Service Parliament of Canada Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A9 Telephone: Toll-free: 1-866-599-4999 National Capital Region: 613-992-4793 Fax: 613-992-1273 TTY: 613-995-2266 Guided Tours: 613-996-0896 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.parl.gc.ca 51 ESL Resource Book-EN fonts 3/13/09 5:21 PM Page 52