The
39th Canadian Parliament was in session from April 3, 2006 until September 7, 2008. The membership was set by the
2006 federal electionThe 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
on January 23, 2006, and it has changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections. The Parliament was dissolved prematurely on September 7, 2008, with an
election to determine the membership of the 40th ParliamentThe 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
occurring on October 14, 2008.
There were two
sessionsA legislative session is the period of time when a legislature is convened for the purpose of lawmaking. Legislatures plan their business using a legislative calendar. Unofficial but related business may be conducted by legislators outside of the session, or within the session but on days which it...
of the 39th Parliament:
| Session |
Start |
End |
| 1st |
April 3, 2006 |
September 14, 2007 |
| 2nd |
October 16, 2007 |
September 7, 2008 |
Overview
The 39th Parliament was the longest minority government led by any federal government excepting Mackenzie King's Liberal Party government in the
14th ParliamentThe 14th Canadian Parliament was in session from March 8, 1922 until September 5, 1925. The membership was set by the 1921 federal election on December 6, 1921, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1925 election.It was controlled by...
, which fluctuated between majority and minority status. No other Conservative minority has lasted a full year, and only Lester B. Pearson's governments lasted more than two.
The 39th Parliament was controlled by a
Conservative PartyThe Conservative Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Tories, is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. The party is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
minority, led by
Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister of Canada is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government of Canada. The office is not outlined in any of the documents that constitute the written portion of the constitution of Canada; executive authority is formally vested in the...
Stephen HarperStephen Joseph Harper, PC, MP is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada, and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became Prime Minister after his party won a minority government in the January 2006 federal election...
and the 28th Canadian Ministry, which assumed power on February 6, 2006. The
Official OppositionIn Canada, Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition , commonly known as the Official Opposition, is usually the largest parliamentary opposition party in the House of Commons or a provincial legislative assembly that is not in government either on its own or as part of a governing coalition...
was the
Liberal PartyThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is a major political party in Canada. The party sits between the centre-left and centre of the Canadian political spectrum. The party currently forms the Official Opposition in the Parliament of Canada since the 2006 federal election...
, led first by interim leader
Bill GrahamWilliam Carvel "Bill" Graham, PC, QC is a former Canadian politician. In 2006, he was Canada's Leader of the Opposition as well as the interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada between the resignation of Paul Martin and the election of Stéphane Dion as his successor...
, and then by
Stéphane DionStéphane Maurice Dion, PC, MP is a Canadian politician who has been the Member of Parliament for the riding of Saint-Laurent–Cartierville in Montreal since 1996. He was the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in the Canadian House of Commons from...
for the remainder of the Parliament's life.
The
SpeakerSpeaker of the Canadian House of Commons is the presiding officer of the lower house and is elected at the beginning of each new parliament by fellow MPs. The Speaker's role in presiding over Canada's House of Commons is similar to that of Speakers elsewhere in other countries that use the...
is Liberal
Peter MillikenPeter Andrew Stewart Milliken, MP is a Canadian lawyer and politician. He has been a member of the Canadian House of Commons since 1988, and has served as Speaker of the House since 2001. Milliken represents the Ontario riding of Kingston and the Islands as a member of the Liberal Party...
. Milliken was re-elected as the Speaker of the House for the 39th Parliament on April 3, 2006. The Speaker only votes in a tie, and, as Milliken is a Liberal, the Liberal caucus was effectively reduced by one. This, along with the defection of
Wajid KhanWajid Ali Khan is a Canadian businessman and politician. Until 2008, he was a member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Mississauga—Streetsville as a Conservative Member of Parliament.-Early life:Khan served as an officer and a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force from 1966 to...
to the Conservatives enabled the Conservatives to pass legislation with the cooperation of any one of the three opposition parties:
LiberalsThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is a major political party in Canada. The party sits between the centre-left and centre of the Canadian political spectrum. The party currently forms the Official Opposition in the Parliament of Canada since the 2006 federal election...
,
Bloc QuébécoisThe Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada that defines itself as devoted to both the protection of Quebec's interests on a federal level as well as the promotion of its sovereignty...
, or
New Democratic PartyThe New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a social democratic political party in Canada. In the Canadian House of Commons, it holds a centre-left position in the Canadian political spectrum. The leader of the federal NDP is Jack Layton...
(NDP).
The party standings as elected and as of March 17, 2008, are on the table below. Since the election, four members of the House of Commons crossed the floor (two of whom had previously been forced to sit as an independent), one died, eleven resigned, and nine members have been elected in by-elections to fill vacancies (one vacancy remains to be filled). In that same period, two senators have died, six have resigned (four of whom had reached the mandatory retirement age), and one has been appointed to fill a vacancy (twelve vacancies remain). Step-by-step changes are listed in the Members section. See
List of Canadian federal electoral districts for a list of the ridings in this parliament.
The Parliament was dissolved by Governor General Michaëlle Jean on the advice of Prime Minister Stephen Harper on September 7, 2008. The general election for the members of the 40th Parliament of Canada was held on October 14, 2008.
Floor-crossing
Five members of parliament have
crossed the floorIn politics, crossing the floor has two meanings referring to a change of allegiance in a Westminster system parliament.The term originates from the British House of Commons, which is configured with the Government and Opposition facing each other on rows of benches...
since the election on January 23, 2006:
On February 6, 2006,
David EmersonDavid Lee Emerson, PC is a Canadian politician, businessman and civil servant.Emerson is a former Member of Parliament for the riding of Vancouver Kingsway. He was first elected as a Liberal and served as Minister of Industry under Prime Minister Paul Martin...
, elected as the Liberal
Member of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a parliament. In many countries the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a unique title, such as senate, and thus also have unique titles for its members, such as senators. Members of...
for
Vancouver KingswayVancouver Kingsway is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1953 to 1988 and since 1997. It is located in Vancouver.-Demographics:...
, crossed the floor to join Stephen Harper's cabinet as Minister of International Trade.
On January 5, 2007,
Wajid KhanWajid Ali Khan is a Canadian businessman and politician. Until 2008, he was a member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Mississauga—Streetsville as a Conservative Member of Parliament.-Early life:Khan served as an officer and a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force from 1966 to...
, elected as the Liberal MP for
Mississauga—StreetsvilleMississauga—Streetsville is a federal and provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004 and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 2007...
, crossed the floor to join the Conservative Party.
On February 6, 2007,
Garth TurnerJohn Garth Turner, PC is a Canadian business journalist, best-selling author, entrepreneur, broadcaster, and politician, twice elected as a Member of the House of Commons, former Minster of National Revenue and leadership candidate for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada...
, elected as a Conservative MP for
HaltonHalton is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1988 and since 1997. Its population in 2001 was 100,055.-Geography:...
, moved to the Liberal caucus. He had been sitting as an Independent since being suspended from the Tory caucus on October 18, 2006.
On June 26, 2007,
Joe ComuzziJoseph Robert "Joe" Comuzzi, PC is a former Canadian politician.Joe Comuzzi was born in Fort William, Ontario. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Windsor in 1954. In 1966 Comuzzi received the University of Windsor Alumni Award of Merit, the Alumni Association's most...
, elected as a Liberal MP for
Thunder Bay—Superior NorthThunder Bay—Superior North is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1976....
, moved to the Conservative caucus. He had been sitting as an Independent since being suspended from the Liberal caucus on March 21, 2007.
On August 30, 2008,
Blair WilsonBlair Wilson was the Canadian Member of Parliament in the 39th Canadian parliament for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country electoral district. He was elected on January 23, 2006 in the 2006 federal election as the Liberal candidate...
elected as a Liberal MP for
West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky CountryWest Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997.-Geography:...
, moved to the Green caucus. He had been sitting as an Independent since he resigned from the Liberal caucus on October 28, 2007.
Liberal leadership
During the election campaign, the Liberal leader was then-Prime Minister
Paul MartinPaul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC is a Canadian politician who was the Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
. After the election results were announced, Martin announced his intention to resign, but did not indicate when, other than saying he would not lead the party into the next election. On February 1, 2006, the Liberal Party Caucus chose Bill Graham as
parliamentary leaderA parliamentary leader is chosen in Canadian politics to lead a caucus in a legislative body, whether it be the House of Commons or a provincial legislature...
, meaning he served as
Leader of the OppositionThe Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition , or simply the Leader of the Opposition, in Canada is the Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons who leads Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, the party in Parliament that has the most seats in opposition to the ruling party.He or she is...
in the
House of CommonsThe House of Commons is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate.
The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament .
Members are elected by simple...
until the election of
Stéphane DionStéphane Maurice Dion, PC, MP is a Canadian politician who has been the Member of Parliament for the riding of Saint-Laurent–Cartierville in Montreal since 1996. He was the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in the Canadian House of Commons from...
as Liberal leader at the Liberal Party leadership convention, held December 2-3, 2006.
On March 18, 2006 Martin tendered his resignation as Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. This move was widely seen as a move by Martin to stop any talk of him leading the party into the next election.
Five priorities
Prime Minister Harper said he would move forward with his top five priorities from the campaign. At least four of these would require legislative action: the passage of a
Federal Accountability ActThe Federal Accountability Act is a statute introduced as Bill C-2 in the first session of the 39th Canadian Parliament on April 11, 2006, by the President of the Treasury Board, John Baird...
in response to the
sponsorship scandalThe sponsorship scandal, "AdScam", "Sponsorship"or Sponsorgate, is a scandal that came as a result of a Canadian federal government "sponsorship program" in the province of Quebec and involving the Liberal Party of Canada, which was in power from 1993 to 2006...
; setting longer
mandatory sentencesA mandatory sentence is a controversial court decision setting where judicial discretion is limited by law. Typically, people convicted of certain crimes must be punished with at least a minimum number of years in prison...
; lowering the
Goods & Services TaxThe Canadian Goods and Services Tax is a multi-level value-added tax introduced in Canada on January 1, 1991, by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and finance minister Michael Wilson...
to 6% (and eventually to 5%); giving $1,200 for parents per child under the age of 6; and negotiating with the provinces to shorten wait-times (this priority was replaced, post-election, with combating crime by creating more police officers). The child allowance and first GST were in place by July 1, 2006. On December 6, 2006, another issue many expected to arise in the first session of parliament did, in fact, come to the fore, when the government introduced a motion calling "on the government to introduce legislation to restore the traditional definition of marriage without affecting civil unions and while respecting existing same-sex marriages." The next day, the House defeated the motion by a vote of 175 to 123, with six cabinet ministers voting against it, and Harper declared the issue settled. (See
Members of the 39th Canadian Parliament and same-sex marriageThis article lists the members of the 39th Parliament of Canada and their voting records in regards to the Civil Marriage Act. Bill C-38 amended the Marriage Act of Canada to recognize same-sex marriage . The 39th Parliament was elected at the federal election of January 23, 2006...
for more information.) and on January 1, 2008 the second GST reduction came into effect. The Federal Accountability Act received Royal Assent on December 12, 2006
Resignations and By-elections
On September 20, 2006 Liberal MP
Joe FontanaJoseph Frank "Joe" Fontana, PC was a Liberal member of the Parliament of Canada for the riding of London North Centre, in London, Ontario....
(
London North CentreLondon North Centre is an electoral district in the province of Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997, and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1951....
) resigned to run in the London mayoralty election. Fontana was replaced in the riding by Liberal
Glen PearsonGlen Douglas Pearson is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is the Member of Parliament for London North Centre, and is a member of the Liberal Party of Canada....
after a by-election on November 27, 2006.
Liberal MP
Jean LapierreJean-Claude Lapierre, PC is a Canadian television broadcaster and a former federal politician.He was Paul Martin's Quebec lieutenant during the period of the Martin government. He returned to the Canadian House of Commons after an eleven year absence when he won a seat in the 2004 federal election...
declared on January 11, 2007 that he would resign from the Liberal Party at the end of the month to pursue a career in television. This took place on January 28, leaving the Outremont district vacant. On July 28, Prime Minister Stephen Harper called by-elections for this and two other Quebec ridings, which were held on September 17, 2007. Newcomer NDP candidate
Thomas MulcairThomas J. Mulcair is the Member of Parliament for Outremont, Quebec, Canada. He was the Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Chomedey in Laval from 1994 to 2007. He served as the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks from 2003 until 2006...
won this riding over star Liberal candidate Jocelyn Coulon, only the second-ever time Outremont has not been won by a Liberal candidate. Mulcair was previously a Provincial Liberal Cabinet Minister in Quebec.
On February 21, 2007,
Yvan LoubierYvan Loubier is a Canadian politician and one of the founders of the Bloc Québécois. He was a Bloc Québécois member of the Canadian House of Commons representing the district of Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, from the since he was first elected in the 1993 election, until his resignation on February 21,...
(representing
Saint-Hyacinthe—BagotSaint-Hyacinthe—Bagot is a federal electoral district that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1935. It is located in Quebec, Canada. Its population in 2006 was 95,983.-Geography:...
for the
Bloc QuébécoisThe Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada that defines itself as devoted to both the protection of Quebec's interests on a federal level as well as the promotion of its sovereignty...
) resigned in order to run in the
Quebec general election, 2007The Quebec general election of 2007 was held in the Canadian province of Quebec on March 26, 2007 to elect members of the 38th National Assembly of Quebec. The Quebec Liberal Party led by Jean Charest managed to win a plurality of seats, but were reduced to a minority government, Quebec's first in...
. Loubier was replaced in a by-election on September 17, 2007, by newcomer Bloc candidate
Ève-Mary Thaï Thi LacÈve-Mary Thaï Thi Lac is a Canadian politician. She was elected to the Canadian House of Commons on September 17, 2007, as the Bloc Québécois candidate in the Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot by-election, defeating the Conservative candidate Bernard Barré.Born in Vietnam, Thi Lac was adopted at age two by a...
.
One day later, on February 22, veteran Liberal MP and former
Liberal Party of CanadaThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is a major political party in Canada. The party sits between the centre-left and centre of the Canadian political spectrum. The party currently forms the Official Opposition in the Parliament of Canada since the 2006 federal election...
interim leader
Bill GrahamWilliam Carvel "Bill" Graham, PC, QC is a former Canadian politician. In 2006, he was Canada's Leader of the Opposition as well as the interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada between the resignation of Paul Martin and the election of Stéphane Dion as his successor...
announced that he would not seek reelection in the
next federal electionThe 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
. On June 19, 2007, Graham announced he would be resigning his
Toronto CentreToronto Centre is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1872 to 1925, and since 1935, under the names Centre Toronto , Toronto Centre , Rosedale and Toronto Centre—Rosedale .Toronto Centre covers the heart of downtown...
seat effective July 2, 2007, to allow former
Ontario New Democratic PartyThe Ontario New Democratic Party, formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a section of the federal New Democratic Party.-Origins:...
Premier and Liberal Party leadership candidate
Bob RaeRobert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and sits in the Canadian House of Commons as the Liberal opposition's foreign affairs critic....
to run in the riding. Rae went on to win the Liberal stronghold riding in a March 17, 2008 byelection.
On March 8, 2007, Liberal MP
Jim PetersonJames Scott "Jim" Peterson, PC is a retired Canadian politician and former Minister of International Trade.Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he has a DCL from McGill University, a Master of Laws from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Ontario...
announced that he would not be a candidate in his
WillowdaleWillowdale is a federal and provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979.The federal riding was created in 1976 from part of Eglinton...
riding in the next federal election. On June 20, 2007, Peterson followed Bill Graham's lead and announced his resignation from the House of Commons, effective July 12. Both Bill Graham and Jim Peterson resigned their seats early in the hope that Prime Minister
Stephen HarperStephen Joseph Harper, PC, MP is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada, and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became Prime Minister after his party won a minority government in the January 2006 federal election...
would be compelled to add those vacant seats to the scheduled September 17, 2007 by-elections in
QuebecQuebec is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking identity and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. On July 23, the Tory government announced that it would delay the Ontario by-elections so as not to overlap with the impending
Ontario general election, 2007The Ontario general election of 2007 was held on October 10 2007 to elect members of the 39th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Liberals under Dalton McGuinty won the election with a majority government, winning 71 out of a possible 107 seats with 42.2% of the popular vote...
scheduled for October 10, 2007. When the by-election was eventually held in the riding on March 17, 2008, appointed former Liberal Party leadership candidate
Martha Hall FindlayMartha Hall Findlay is a Canadian lawyer, businesswoman and politician. She was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as the Liberal Party of Canada's candidate in the Toronto riding of Willowdale in a federal by-election held on March 17, 2008 to fill a vacancy created by former Liberal MP Jim...
won handily.
Also in March 2007, Bloc Québécois MP and former BQ House Leader
Michel GauthierMichel Gauthier is a Québécois politician and former leader of the Bloc Québécois for one year . He was Leader of the Opposition during this time.- Biography :...
announced that he would not run in the next federal election. He resigned his seat of
Roberval—Lac-Saint-JeanFor the electoral district in the Quebec National Assembly see Roberval Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1949.The riding was created in 1947 from parts of Lake St-John—Roberval riding.The...
on July 29, 2007. Gauthier was replaced in a by-election on September 17, 2007, by newcomer Conservative candidate and former Roberval mayor
Denis LebelDenis Lebel, PC, MP is a Canadian federal politician and former mayor of Roberval, Quebec.Lebel was elected to the Canadian House of Commons on September 17, 2007 in the Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean by-election, 2007...
.
On July 5, 2007, Liberal MP
Stephen OwenStephen Owen, PC is the Vice-President External and Legal for the University of British Columbia. He is a former Canadian politician....
announced he would resign his seat of
Vancouver QuadraVancouver Quadra is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1949....
to accept a position at the
University of British ColumbiaThe University of British Columbia is a Canadian public research university with campuses in the Greater Vancouver area and in Kelowna, British Columbia...
, his resignation effective July 27, 2007. Owen was replaced in the riding by former BC Provincial Liberal MLA
Joyce MurrayJoyce Murray is a Canadian politician. She currently represents the electoral district of Vancouver Quadra as a Liberal Member of the Canadian House of Commons, and was previously a BC Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 2001 to 2005.-Career in provincial...
, after a by-election on March 17, 2008.
On July 11, 2007, Liberal MP
Gary MerastyGary Merasty, BEd, MEd, is a Canadian politician and former Liberal Member of Parliament for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River in northern Saskatchewan...
announced he would resign his
Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill RiverDesnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River is a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997.-Demographics:...
seat, due to "family considerations", effective August 31, 2007. Merasty was replaced in the riding by Conservative newcomer
Rob ClarkeRobert G. "Rob" Clarke is a politician and career Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer. He was the Conservative Party of Canada's candidate in Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River for the March 17, 2008 federal by-election in which he defeated Liberal candidate Joan Beatty.A member of the Muskeg...
, after a by-election on March 17, 2008.
On December 12, 2007, Liberal MP
Lucienne RobillardLucienne Robillard, PC is a Canadian politician and a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. She sat in the Canadian House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Westmount—Ville-Marie in Montreal....
announced she would resign her seat of Westmount-Ville-Marie effective January 25, 2008.
On March 14, 2008 Bloc MP
Maka KottoMaka Kotto is a provincial level politician from Quebec, Canada and a former member of the Canadian House of Commons. He is also a published author and has appeared in film...
resigned, followed by Liberal MP
Brenda ChamberlainBrenda Kay Chamberlain, PC was a member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Guelph for the Liberal Party from 1993 until her resignation as of April, 2008....
resigned on April 7. Another Liberal MP,
John GodfreyJohn Ferguson Godfrey, PC is a Canadian educator, journalist and former Member of Parliament.- Education :He was born in Toronto, Ontario. His father, Senator John Morrow Godfrey , was a Canadian pilot, lawyer and politician. John Godfrey graduated from Upper Canada College in 1960...
, resigned on August 1.
Major bills and motions
Important business of the 39th Parliament includes the following
billsA bill is a proposed new law introduced for debate within a legislature. Even after a bill has been passed by the legislature, it is still formally called a "bill"...
and
motionsA motion is a formal step to introduce a matter for consideration by a group. It is a common concept in the procedure of trade unions, students' unions, corporations, and other deliberative assemblies...
. Note that not all of these bills have yet become law. Motions (excepting those which pass bills) have no effect in law. A complete list of bills of the 39th Parliament is on the Parliament's website, divided into bills from the
1st and
2nd sessions. On the site, the bills are divided into government bills,
private member's billA private member's bill or a legislative motion is a proposed law introduced by a backbencher, a so-called private member of parliament...
s, and
private billA private bill is a proposal for a law that would apply to a particular individual or group of individuals, or corporate entity. This is unlike public law which applies to everyone within its jurisdiction...
s for both the House and the Senate.
Federal Accountability Act
Bill C-2, the
Federal Accountability ActThe Federal Accountability Act is a statute introduced as Bill C-2 in the first session of the 39th Canadian Parliament on April 11, 2006, by the President of the Treasury Board, John Baird...
(officially
"An Act providing for conflict of interest rules, restrictions on election financing and measures respecting administrative transparency, oversight and accountability"), received
Royal AssentThe granting of Royal Assent is the formal method by which a constitutional monarch completes the legislative process of lawmaking by formally assenting to an Act of Parliament. While the power to withhold Royal Assent was once exercised often, it is exceedingly rare in the modern, democratic...
in the Senate on December 12, 2006, and is now becoming law. The act plans to reduce the opportunity to exert influence with money by banning corporate, union, and large personal political donations; create a five-year lobbying ban on former ministers, their aides, and senior public servants; provide protection for whistleblowers; and enhancing the power for the
Auditor GeneralAuditor general may refer to:*Comptroller and Auditor-General*Auditor General for Scotland*Auditor General for Wales*Auditor General of Canada*Auditor General of China*Auditor General of Pakistan*Auditor General of Sri Lanka...
to follow the money spent by the government.
2006 Canadian federal budget
Bill C-13 is The
2006 Canadian federal budgetThe Canadian federal budget for fiscal year 2006-2007 was presented to the Canadian House of Commons by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on May 2, 2006...
, which received Royal Assent in the Senate on June 22, 2006.
Extending the Afghan War until 2011
A motion in the House to extend Canada's
mission in AfghanistanThe War in Afghanistan is an ongoing coalition conflict which began on October 7, 2001, as the British military participated in the US military's Operation Enduring Freedom that was launched in response to the September 11 attacks...
by two years was successful. The motion was supported by the Conservatives and 30 Liberal MPs, allowing it to narrowly pass 149-145 on May 17, 2006. Even outside of government bills, the Prime Minister's support of Canada's action has been a recurring topic, gaining him both supporters and critics among the Canadian population. On March 13, 2008, the mission was further extended until July 2011 by a vote of 197-77, with Conservative and Liberal MPs in favour, and Bloc and NDP MPs opposed.
Softwood lumber deal
Bill C-24, the
"Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006" put into effect the deal made between the Canadian and American governments regarding the longstanding softwood lumber debates. The Act received Royal Assent December 14, 2006.
Québécois nationhood
A successful motion in the House to recognise the
Québécois as a
nation within a united Canada-1534–1774:Canada was first a French colony. Jacques Cartier claimed it for France in 1534, and permanent French settlement began in 1608. It was part of New France, which constituted all French colonies in North America. Up until 1760, "Canadien" nationalism had developed itself free of all...
. The motion was put forward by the
Prime MinisterStephen Joseph Harper, PC, MP is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada, and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became Prime Minister after his party won a minority government in the January 2006 federal election...
in reaction to an announced motion by
Bloc QuébécoisThe Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada that defines itself as devoted to both the protection of Quebec's interests on a federal level as well as the promotion of its sovereignty...
leader
Gilles DuceppeGilles Duceppe, MP is a Quebec nationalist and social democratic politician in Canada. He is a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons and the leader of the sovereigntist Bloc Québécois. He is the son of a well-known Quebec actor, Jean Duceppe...
that would recognise Quebec as a nation, but did not contain the words "in Canada". The motion easily passed 266 to 16, with all party leaders voting in favour, including Duceppe
Reaffirming the Kyoto Protocol
A motion passed by the opposition parties (161 for to 115 against) on February 5, 2007 to reaffirm Canada's commitment to the
Kyoto ProtocolThe Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , aimed at combating global warming...
. The motion may not have any legal effect, but it is related to Bill C-288 -- which received Royal Assent on June 22, 2007.
Fixed election dates
Bill C-16, titled
"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act", is a bill to set fixed election dates. Future elections will be held on the third Monday in October in the fourth calendar year following polling day for the last general election. Had Parliament not been dissolved on September 7, 2008 the next general election under this act would have been held on October 19, 2009; instead the
next general electionThe 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
will take place on October 14, 2008. The provinces of British Columbia,Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador have already implemented fixed election dates for their own provincial elections. Bill C-16 passed in the House on November 6, 2006 and the Senate on March 28, 2007. The House began discussing the amendments made in the Senate on April 21, 2007. The House voted against the amendments on April 24, 2007. On May 1, 2007, the Senate chose not to insist on its amendment. The bill received Royal Assent on May 3.
Minimum penalties for offences involving firearms
Bill C-9, titled
"An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conditional sentence of imprisonment)", is a bill to set minimum penalties for offences involving firearms. Under this act, persons convicted of a serious personal injury offence or a terrorism offence with a term of imprisonment of ten years or more would not be eligible for a
conditional sentenceIn grammar, conditional sentences are sentences discussing factual implications or hypothetical situations and their consequences. Languages use a variety of conditional constructions and verb forms to form these kinds of sentences.Full conditional sentences contain two clauses: the condition or...
. Bill C-9 passed in the House on November 3, 2006 and was passed by the Senate on May 16, 2007. The bill received
Royal AssentThe granting of Royal Assent is the formal method by which a constitutional monarch completes the legislative process of lawmaking by formally assenting to an Act of Parliament. While the power to withhold Royal Assent was once exercised often, it is exceedingly rare in the modern, democratic...
on May 31, 2007.
Tackling Violent Crime Act
Bill C-2, titled
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (Tackling Violent Crime Act) was the government's omnibus crime bill which received Royal Assent on February 29, 2008 and amended several pieces of legislation. Among other things, the bill raised the age of consent to 16 from 14, imposed minimum mandatory sentence for crimes involving firearms, instituted a "
three-strikes-and-you're-outThree strikes laws are statutes enacted by state governments in the United States which require the state courts to hand down a mandatory and extended period of incarceration to persons who have been convicted of a serious criminal offense on three or more separate occasions. These statutes became...
" (also known as a "reverse onus sentencing") for habitual offenders, and restricted "house arrest" policies for serious offenders. The bill received
royal assentThe granting of Royal Assent is the formal method by which a constitutional monarch completes the legislative process of lawmaking by formally assenting to an Act of Parliament. While the power to withhold Royal Assent was once exercised often, it is exceedingly rare in the modern, democratic...
on February 28, 2008 and sections 1 to 17, 28 to 38, 54, 57 and 58
went into forceComing into force is a term that refers to the process by which legislation, or part of legislation, and treaties comes to have legal force and effect...
on May 1, 2008 and sections 18 to 27, 39 to 53, 55, 56, 59 and 60 went into force on July 2, 2008.
Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act
Bill C-288, an act of the opposition parties to try and make the government support its global climate change obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. It received Royal Assent on June 22, 2007.
2007 federal budget
Bill C-52 is the
2007 Canadian federal budgetThe Canadian federal budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year was presented to the Canadian House of Commons by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on March 19, 2007. The federal budget included $14 billion in new spending and $5.7 billion in tax cuts...
.
2008 federal budget
Bill C-50 is the
2008 Canadian federal budgetThe Canadian federal budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year was presented to the Canadian House of Commons by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on February 26, 2008....
.
Conscientious Objectors to a War Not Sanctioned by UN
On June 3, 2008, the
Parliament of CanadaThe Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch represented by her Governor General the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
passed a motion (137 to 110) which recommended that the government immediately implement a program which would “allow conscientious objectors…to a war not sanctioned by the
United NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and the achieving of world peace...
…to…remain in Canada…” The motion gained international attention from the New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/world/americas/16deport.html?_r=2&ref=americas&oref=slogin&oref=slogin, Britain's
BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation, usually referred to by its abbreviation as the "BBC", is the longest established and largest broadcaster in the world...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7444116.stm and the New Zealand press.
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/2006457
Re-opening the same-sex marriage debate
A government motion to reopen the
same-sex marriageSame-sex marriage is a term used to describe a legally or socially recognized marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Other terms used to describe this type of recognition include gay marriage or gender-neutral marriage.Same-sex marriage is a civil rights,...
debate failed. The
38th Canadian ParliamentThe 38th Canadian Parliament was in session from October 4 2004 until November 29 2005. The membership was set by the 2004 federal election on June 28 2004, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections, but due to the seat distribution, those few changes significantly affected...
, led by the Liberals, had legalized same-sex marriage a year earlier. Several provinces had legalized same-sex marriage before that. During his campaign, Harper promised a parliamentary vote on reopening the issue. The motion failed 175-123 leaving the same-sex marriage legal in Canada and the legal debate about it closed.
Extending anti-terror laws
A failed government motion (159 opposed to 124 in favour) to renew certain sunsetted provisions of the
Anti-terrorism ActThe Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act was passed by the Liberal government of Canada in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. It received Royal Assent on December 18, 2001 as Bill C-36. The "omnibus" bill extends the powers of government and institutions within the Canadian...
, first passed by the Liberals after 9/11 that suspended some civil liberties in order to combat
terrorismTerrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion.At present, there is no internationally agreed definition of terrorism...
.
Eight-year Senate terms
Bill C-19 (previously Bill S-4) titled
An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Senate tenure) is a bill to limit new
Senators'The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the sovereign and the House of Commons. The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the prime minister...
tenure to eight-year terms. Currently, senators can stay in office until they reach the age of 75. The bill was first introduced by the government in the Senate on May 30, 2006. After consideration in committee and making amendments to the bill, the Senate recommended that the bill not be proceeded with until such time as the Supreme Court of Canada had ruled with respect to its constitutionality, which had not occurred prior to dissolution. The bill was reintroduced as a Commons bill on November 13, 2007 and is currently at second reading stage in the House.
Senate Appointment Consultations Act
Bill C-20 (previously Bill C-43), titled
"An Act to provide for consultations with electors on their preferences for appointments to the Senate", is a bill to hold
referendumA referendum , ballot question, or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal...
s on Senate appointments, introduced December 13, 2006. The bill did not pass by the end of the 1st session of parliament, and was reintroduced in the 2nd session on November 13, 2007. The bill was sent to a legislative committee before second reading on February 13, 2008.
Expanding the House of Commons
Bill C-22 (previously Bill C-56), titled
"An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Democratic representation)" is a bill which would add 22 seats to the House of Commons. This would increase the number to 330 seats, although these seats probably will not be in use until at least 2014. Under the proposed plan,
OntarioOntario is a province located in east-central Canada, the largest by population and second largest, after Quebec, in total area. Ontario is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba to the west and Quebec to the east, and 5 U.S...
would gain ten seats,
British ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is famed for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . In 1871, it became the sixth province of Canada.The capital of British Columbia is Victoria, the 15th largest metropolitan region in Canada...
would get another seven seats, and
AlbertaAlberta is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1, 1905.Alberta is located in western Canada, bounded by the provinces of British Columbia to the west and Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Territories to the north, and the U.S. state of Montana to the south....
would receive another five seats. The bill did not pass by the end of the 1st session of parliament, and was reintroduced in the 2nd session. The bill is currently at second reading stage, with an amendment by the Bloc being debated.
Income Tax Amendments Act, 2006
Bill C-10 (previously Bill C-33), among a long list of minor changes to tax law contains a controversial clause that would give the government power to deny taxation benefits for films made in Canada if the government deems the content to be objectionable. Critics of the clause argue that it is equivalent to censorship because most Canadian films cannot afford to be produced without government assistance. The Bill was passed in the House October 29, 2007, but opposition parties later said that they did not not notice the controversial part and several Senators have said that they intend to send the Bill back to the House.
Bill C-61 (39th Canadian Parliament, 2nd Session)
Bill C-61, titled
An Act to amend the Copyright Act, automatically died before second reading when the 39th Parliament was dissolved prematurely and an election was called by the
Governor GeneralThe Governor General of Canada is the viceregal representative in the federal jurisdiction of the Canadian monarch and head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, who is equally shared with 15 other sovereign nations in a form of personal union, but resides predominantly in her oldest realm,...
Michaëlle JeanMichaëlle Jean is the current Governor General of Canada. She was appointed as such by Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, on the recommendation of then Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, to replace Adrienne Clarkson as vicereine...
at
Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister of Canada is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government of Canada. The office is not outlined in any of the documents that constitute the written portion of the constitution of Canada; executive authority is formally vested in the...
Stephen HarperStephen Joseph Harper, PC, MP is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada, and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became Prime Minister after his party won a minority government in the January 2006 federal election...
's request on September 7, 2008.. The controversial bill was tabled in 2008 during the second session of the 39th Canadian Parliament by Minister of Industry
Jim PrenticeJames "Jim" Prentice, PC, QC, MP is a Canadian lawyer, and politician. In the 2004 federal election he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a candidate of the Conservative Party of Canada...
.
Members
- For full lists of members of the 39th Parliament of Canada, see List of House members of the 39th Parliament of Canada and List of senators in the 39th Parliament of Canada.
Speakers
- Hon. Peter Milliken
Peter Andrew Stewart Milliken, MP is a Canadian lawyer and politician. He has been a member of the Canadian House of Commons since 1988, and has served as Speaker of the House since 2001. Milliken represents the Ontario riding of Kingston and the Islands as a member of the Liberal Party...
(the LiberalThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is a major political party in Canada. The party sits between the centre-left and centre of the Canadian political spectrum. The party currently forms the Official Opposition in the Parliament of Canada since the 2006 federal election...
member for Kingston and the IslandsKingston and the Islands is a federal and provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968, and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1967....
) was re-elected Speaker of the Canadian House of CommonsSpeaker of the Canadian House of Commons is the presiding officer of the lower house and is elected at the beginning of each new parliament by fellow MPs. The Speaker's role in presiding over Canada's House of Commons is similar to that of Speakers elsewhere in other countries that use the...
on April 3, 2006. He defeated Diane MarleauDiane Marleau, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. She represented the riding of Sudbury in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 2008, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Jean Chrétien...
(the LiberalThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is a major political party in Canada. The party sits between the centre-left and centre of the Canadian political spectrum. The party currently forms the Official Opposition in the Parliament of Canada since the 2006 federal election...
Member for SudburySudbury is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1949.Its population in 2001 was 89,443. The district is one of two serving the city of Greater Sudbury, Ontario....
) and Marcel ProulxMarcel Proulx is a Canadian politician.Proulx is a current member of the Liberal Party of Canada in the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Hull—Aylmer since 1999. Proulx is a former administrator, businessman, claim adjuster, and executive assistant...
(the LiberalThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is a major political party in Canada. The party sits between the centre-left and centre of the Canadian political spectrum. The party currently forms the Official Opposition in the Parliament of Canada since the 2006 federal election...
Member for Hull—AylmerHull—Aylmer is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1917....
) on the first ballot, becoming only the third Speaker from an opposition party in history.
- Hon. Noël Kinsella
Noël A. Kinsella is a Canadian politician and Speaker of the Canadian Senate.-Education:Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, he received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from University College in Dublin, Ireland. He received an L.Ph. and a Ph.D. degree from Pontifical University of St. Thomas...
is the Speaker of the SenateThe Speaker of the Senate of Canada is the presiding officer of the Senate of Canada. The Speaker represents the Senate at official functions, rules on questions of parliamentary procedure and parliamentary privilege, and oversee debates and voting in the red chamber. This position is often...
(a ConservativeThe Conservative Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Tories, is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. The party is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
Senator for New BrunswickNew Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally bilingual province in the confederation. The provincial capital is Fredericton...
).
Other Chair occupants
House of Commons
Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Whole — Hon.
Bill BlaikieWilliam Alexander "Bill" Blaikie, PC is a Canadian politician. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba since April 2009, representing the Winnipeg division of Elmwood as a member of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba...
(the
New Democratic PartyThe New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a social democratic political party in Canada. In the Canadian House of Commons, it holds a centre-left position in the Canadian political spectrum. The leader of the federal NDP is Jack Layton...
Member for Elmwood—TransconaElmwood—Transcona is a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004. Its population in 2001 was 77,977.The riding was created in 2003 from Winnipeg—Transcona riding....
). An
MPA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a parliament. In many countries the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a unique title, such as senate, and thus also have unique titles for its members, such as senators. Members of...
since 1979, he is the longest-serving current Member of the House.
Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole —
Royal GalipeauRoyal Galipeau is a Member of Parliament for the Ottawa—Orléans federal constituency. He was the successful Conservative Party candidate in the Canadian federal elections of 2006 and 2008. Royal Galipeau has been married to his wife Anne for over 30 years. They have three sons and one daughter. Mr...
(the
ConservativeThe Conservative Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Tories, is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. The party is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
Member for Ottawa—OrléansOttawa—Orléans is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1988....
). He is the first member of Parliament to hold this position without previous parliamentary experience.
Assistant Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole —
Andrew ScheerAndrew Scheer is a Canadian Member of Parliament.Scheer was born in Ottawa, Ontario. He graduated from Immaculata High School and studied history and politics at the University of Ottawa....
(the
ConservativeThe Conservative Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Tories, is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. The party is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
Member for Regina—Qu'AppelleRegina—Qu'Appelle is a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1968 and since 1988.-Geography:...
). As one of Canada's youngest
MPsA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a parliament. In many countries the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a unique title, such as senate, and thus also have unique titles for its members, such as senators. Members of...
, is a vocal advocate of western concerns.
Senate
- Hon. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool
Rose-Marie Losier-Cool is a Canadian Senator for New Brunswick.A member of New Brunswick's Acadian community, Losier-Cool worked as a teacher for thirty-three years, two decades of which were spent at École secondaire Népisiguit in Bathurst, New Brunswick.She was elected the first woman president...
is the Speaker pro tempore of the Senate of Canada, (a LiberalThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is a major political party in Canada. The party sits between the centre-left and centre of the Canadian political spectrum. The party currently forms the Official Opposition in the Parliament of Canada since the 2006 federal election...
Senator for New BrunswickNew Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally bilingual province in the confederation. The provincial capital is Fredericton...
).
Leaders
- Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government of Canada. The office is not outlined in any of the documents that constitute the written portion of the constitution of Canada; executive authority is formally vested in the...
: Rt. Hon. Stephen HarperStephen Joseph Harper, PC, MP is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada, and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became Prime Minister after his party won a minority government in the January 2006 federal election...
(Conservative)
- Leader of the Opposition (Liberal):
- Hon. Bill Graham
William Carvel "Bill" Graham, PC, QC is a former Canadian politician. In 2006, he was Canada's Leader of the Opposition as well as the interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada between the resignation of Paul Martin and the election of Stéphane Dion as his successor...
(interim)
- Hon. Stéphane Dion
Stéphane Maurice Dion, PC, MP is a Canadian politician who has been the Member of Parliament for the riding of Saint-Laurent–Cartierville in Montreal since 1996. He was the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in the Canadian House of Commons from...
(from December 2, 2006)
- Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada that defines itself as devoted to both the protection of Quebec's interests on a federal level as well as the promotion of its sovereignty...
leader: Gilles DuceppeGilles Duceppe, MP is a Quebec nationalist and social democratic politician in Canada. He is a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons and the leader of the sovereigntist Bloc Québécois. He is the son of a well-known Quebec actor, Jean Duceppe...
- New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a social democratic political party in Canada. In the Canadian House of Commons, it holds a centre-left position in the Canadian political spectrum. The leader of the federal NDP is Jack Layton...
leader: Hon. Jack LaytonJohn Gilbert "Jack" Layton, PC, MP is a Canadian social democratic politician and since 2003 has been leader of Canada's New Democratic Party. He is a former member of the Toronto City Council and acting deputy mayor of Toronto, Ontario. On June 28, 2004, he was elected Member of Parliament for...
Floor leaders
The following were the parties' floor leaders during the 39th Parliament:
House of Commons
- Government House Leader
The Leader of the government in the House of Commons , more commonly known as the Government House Leader, is the Cabinet minister responsible for planning and managing the government's legislative program in the Canadian House of Commons...
: Hon. Peter Van LoanPeter Van Loan, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the member of Parliament for the electoral district of York—Simcoe, and he is the Minister of Public Safety....
- Opposition House leader: Hon. Ralph Goodale
Ralph Edward Goodale, PC, MP was Canada's Minister of Finance from 2003 to 2006 and continues to be a Liberal Member of Parliament...
- Bloc Québécois House leader:
- Michel Gauthier
Michel Gauthier is a Québécois politician and former leader of the Bloc Québécois for one year . He was Leader of the Opposition during this time.- Biography :...
(until April 20, 2007)
- Pierre Paquette
Pierre A. Paquette is a Canadian politician.An economist and professor, Paquette was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a member of the Bloc Québécois in the Canadian federal election, 2000 in the riding of Joliette. He was re-elected in the Canadian federal election, 2004 defeating...
(from April 20, 2007)
- New Democratic Party House leader: Libby Davies
Libby Davies is a Canadian Member of Parliament for the New Democratic Party, representing the riding of Vancouver East in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2007, she was named Deputy Leader of the federal NDP, jointly with Thomas Mulcair.Davies was born in Aldershot, England and emigrated to...
Senate
- Leader of the Government in the Senate
The Leader of the Government in the Senate is a Canadian cabinet minister who leads the government side in the Canadian Senate and is chiefly responsible for promoting and defending the government's program in the Upper House. The government leader's counterpart on the Opposition benches is the...
: Hon. Marjory LeBretonMarjory LeBreton, PC is a Leader of the Government in the Canadian Senate, a position of cabinet-rank; and vice-chair of Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Canada...
- Leader of the Opposition in the Senate: Hon. Céline Hervieux-Payette
Céline Hervieux-Payette, PC is the former Leader of the Opposition in the Canadian Senate, and the first woman ever to hold this position....
Whips
The party whips in this Parliament were as follows:
- Chief Government Whip
In Canada the Chief Government Whip is the member of the Canadian House of Commons charged with ensuring party discipline among members of the caucus of the party forming the government...
: Hon. Jay HillJay D. Hill, PC, MP is a Canadian politician and member of the Conservative Party of Canada...
- Deputy Government Whip: Pierre Lemieux
Pierre Lemieux is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is the MP for the riding of Glengarry—Prescott—Russell in Canada's 39th general election. He represents the Conservative Party of Canada...
- Official Opposition Whip: Hon. Karen Redman
Karen Redman, PC is a Canadian politician. She was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2008, representing the riding of Kitchener Centre for the Liberal Party. She served as Chief Government Whip in the 2004-05 Parliament, and was the Chief Official Opposition Whip in the...
- Bloc Québécois Whip: Michel Guimond
Michel Guimond is a Canadian politician. From 1987 to 1993 he served as a city councillor in Boischatel, Quebec. After this, he ran in the 1993 election for the Bloc Québécois. He was elected into the Canadian House of Commons as the member from Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans...
- New Democratic Party Whip: Yvon Godin
Yvon Godin is a Canadian politician.Godin is currently a New Democratic Party Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Acadie—Bathurst since 1997. Previously, Godin was a labour representative for the United Steelworkers...
Other notable members
- Right Honourable Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC is a Canadian politician who was the Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
, LiberalThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is a major political party in Canada. The party sits between the centre-left and centre of the Canadian political spectrum. The party currently forms the Official Opposition in the Parliament of Canada since the 2006 federal election...
, former Prime MinisterA prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. The position is usually held by, but need not always be held by, a politician. In many systems, the prime minister selects and can dismiss other members of the cabinet, and...
sitting the back benches as Member of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a parliament. In many countries the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a unique title, such as senate, and thus also have unique titles for its members, such as senators. Members of...
for LaSalle — Émard