Role

According to the laureate's official Web site: "The Poet’s role is to encourage and promote the importance of literature, culture and language in Canadian society. Federal legislators created the position in 2001 to draw Canadians’ attention to poetry, both spoken and written, and its role in our lives."

The Parliament of Canada Act states that the laureate may:

• Write poems "especially for use in Parliament on important occasions"
• Sponsor poetry readings
• Give advice to "the Parliamentary Librarian regarding the Library’s collection and acquisitions to enrich its cultural materials"
• Do anything else: "perform other related duties at the request of the Speaker of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Commons, or the Parliamentary Librarian."

The laureate serves at the pleasure of both the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons, with the maximum term of office set at two years.

The position comes with an annual stipend of $13,250, up to $13,000 in travel expenses annually, a budget for administrative expenses and translation/adaptation into Canada’s second official language.

Selection criteria

In order to be chosen for the position, a poet must have:

• contributed to the cultural and literary community
• produced written or oral work reflecting Canada
• be an accomplished literary artist who has influenced other artists
• a substantial record demonstrating literary excellence

Poets Laureate

• George Bowering
  George Bowering
  George Harry Bowering, OC, OBC is a prolific Canadian novelist, poet, historian, and biographer. He has served as Canada's Parliamentary Poet Laureate....
  
   - 2002 - 2004
• Pauline Michel
  Pauline Michel
  Pauline Michel is a Canadian novelist, poet, playwright, songwriter and screenwriter from Quebec.In 2004, Michel was appointed the second ever Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate, succeeding George Bowering. She served as Poet Laureate until her term finished on November 16, 2006.- External links :*...
  
   - 2004 - 2006
• John Steffler
  John Steffler
  -Biography:Born in Toronto, Ontario, Steffler was educated at the University of Toronto and the University of Guelph. Since 1975 he has lived in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador where he taught at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College...
  
   - 2006 - 2008
• Pierre DesRuisseaux
  Pierre DesRuisseaux
  Pierre DesRuisseaux is a Canadian poet. He was named the fourth Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate on April 28, 2009....
  
  - 2009 - present

External links

• Poet Laureate of Canada