Decoding: Parliamentary Committees

by Apathy is Boring — March 30, 2010

When Canadians think of Parliament, they often just think of the House of Commons or Senate. However, parliamentary committees also play an essential role in Canada's government system. Committees are where Members of Parliament and Senators can discuss and debate issues in depth while consulting with experts and the public.

The purpose of committees

There are many types of committees in Parliament, the most important being standing committees. They're so-named because standing committees are permanent and each committee is responsible for a specific aspect of government. However, Parliament also has a number of temporary committees which fill important roles. The two most common types are legislative committees, which are created to examine a specific piece of legislation, and special committees, which are given a specific mission, such as investigating a scandal. The House of Commons and Senate each have committees, and there are also joint committees which bring together both Members of Parliament and Senators. And if all that wasn't compicated enough for you, most committees can also form subcommittees for specific tasks.

Who sits on a committee?

The goal is to have each committees act as a microcosm of Parliament: it's easier to discuss a complex issue with a room full of people than with the whole House or Senate Standing. For example, each House standing committee has 12 seats that are distributed along party lines to reflect the makeup of the House of Commons. Committee members also vote to select chairpersons along party lines. In most cases, committees are led by a government MP or Senator and the vice-chair is part of the official opposition. Legislative and special committees follow similar procedures, although the chairperson is sometimes appointed by the Speaker.

Why do committees matter?

Basically, because committees are where the heavy lifting is done. Every bill passed by Parliament is reviewed by a committee, and committees also regularly issue reports to the House of Commons and Senate. The recommendations and reports of committees are usually adopted by their fellow Parliamentarians, who trust that the committee members have examined every aspect of the issue in detail. It's committees that call expert witnesses and consult with Canadians - so if you're interested in a specific bill or an issue, committees are the place to make your mark.

Committee meetings may not be as electric as Question Period, but they have a huge influence on what happens in Parliament. So, if there's an issue on your mind, find out which committees are involved and get in touch with the MPs or Senators who are members.

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