Canada
The Federal Government of Canada is responsible for matters that affect the whole country such as citizenship and immigration, as well as national defense and trade with other countries. Use this page to learn more about the components/function of the federal government, as well as to help find federal government information including:
- Contact Directories
- Parliament: House of Commons, Senate, Debates, Bills, Publications, Historical Activities
- Privy Council and Cabinet
- Government Publications,
- Budgets and Annual Reports / Expenditures
- Statistics and Census
- Suggested Reading
Contact Directories
- Government of Canada: Departments, Agencies & Crown CorporationsAlphabetical list of links to current Government of Canada Departments, Agencies, Crown Corporations, Special Operating Agencies and other related organizations.
- Government Electronic DirectorySearchable directory of public servants across Canada.
About Parliament
Canada's Parliament consists of three parts: the queen (our Head of State) represented by the Governor General, the appointed Senate, and the elected House of Commons.
- Parliament of CanadaParliament of Canada website
- How Parliament WorksFrom the Parliament of Canada website "How Parliament Works" provides an introduction to the functions and history of parliament in addition to the Canadian system of governance.
- A Guide to the Making of Federal Acts and RegulationsIncludes the framework for making laws, as well as the creation of acts and regulations.
- ParlInfoAggregation of information about the Senate and House of Commons, the constitution, legislation, political parties, elections, provinces and territories, and more.
- OpenParliament.caPresents current information about individual MP and committee activities, topics being discussed in Parliament and more. Also monitors the progress of bills, votes, and debates in the Canadian House of Commons.
The Privy Council and the Cabinet
The Privy Council is comprised of cabinet ministers, former cabinet ministers, and other prominent Canadians appointed by the Governor General in consult with the Prime Minister. Current cabinet members provide advice to the Governor General; issues that are passed become "orders in council".
- Orders in Council (search)Recommendations of Cabinet, involving administrative and legislative matters approved and signed by the Governor general.
- Office of the Prime MinisterInformation pertaining to the Prime Minister's itinerary, relevant news, and photos/videos.
- Privy Council OfficeOutlines the current Privy Council Office (PCO) as led by the Clerk of the Privy Council. .
- The Canadian Ministry (Cabinet)An explanation of cabinet, as well listings of past and current ministries in order of precedence.
- Privy Council Archived Commissions of InquiryEstablished by the Governor in Council (Cabinet) to fully and impartially investigate issues of national importance. They can be policy reviews, factual inquiries, or a combination of both, and are reported to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on completion.
- Index to Federal Royal CommissionsReports, briefs, submissions, evidence, working papers and other documents that have occurred since Confederation.
Bills
- LEGISinfoFocuses on tracking bills through parliament. Included are bills introduced after 2001 and brief information (title, number and sometimes summaries) for bills introduced between 1994 - 2000.
*For specific questions pertaining to bills, types of bills, how a bill becomes law, using Legisinfo and more, please go to Frequently Asked Questions in this topical area within the Parliament of Canada website.
Debates
- LipadCanadian Hansard search by politician, party and timeline, from 1901 until the present.
- House of Commons DebatesFrom the 35th Parliament, 1st Session (January 17, 1994 - Present).
- Senate DebatesAvailable from the 35th Parliament, 2nd Session (1996)
Parliamentary Publications
Parliamentary publications many be differentiated from those produced by government departments and agencies. They provide information of day to day and future parliamentary business as well as a record of debates and discussions in the House of Commons and those produced by committee proceedings.
- Canada GazetteOfficial newspaper of the Government of Canada.
Part Ⅰ: Notices and Proposed Regulations
Part Ⅱ: Official Regulations
Part Ⅲ: Acts of Parliament - Hill NotesResearch analysis as well as documentation on current events of significance to Parliament presently and in the future.
- Legislative SummariesLegislative Summaries include information on government bills, including the purpose and history of the legislation, an analysis of important clauses, and comments from interest groups, the media and other sources.
House of Commons and its work
- Role of the Speaker in the House of CommonsRole of the Speaker in following rules, procedures, and maintaining order.
- Clerk of the House of CommonsNon-partisan officials who provide advice to the Speaker and to Members and who record the decisions of the House.
- Members of the House of CommonsCurrent Members of Parliament that have been elected to the House of Commons.
- Parliamentary BusinessCalendar view of past or scheduled House of Commons sittings, committee meetings and diplomatic events
- House PublicationsDaily description of Chamber Business including Projected Order of Business and Order Paper & Notice Paper. Can review by calendar date for the current session.
- House of Commons List of CommitteesCommittee, subcommittee and past committee listings.
The Senate and its work
- The Senate TodayExplains what the Senate is as well as the role of the Senate in the creation of bills and the amending, defeating and delaying of bills in the House of Commons.
- Senate Procedure in PracticeOnline guide to the work of the Senate. The rules of the Senate are explained, as well as forms and conventions followed during proceedings and in committees.
- Rules of the SenateOriginates from constitutional and statutory sources, as well as parliamentary traditions. Includes duties of the Speaker, sittings of the Senate, order of business, notices, inquiries, time allotments, voting, procedures specific to committees, and more.
- Companion to the Rules of the SenateProvides additional sources of information with respect to Senate parliamentary procedures.
- List of Senators by ProvinceAvailable by province, alphabetical listing, affiliation (party), date of nomination, date of retirement, and appointment.
- Senate CommitteesIncludes listings of current committees as well as meeting dates and studies/bills being reviewed in the present session.
Historical Activities of Parliament
- Canadian Parliament Historical ResourcesSearchable database of the digitized versions of the debates and journals of the Senate and the House of Commons.
- Canadian Ministries Since ConfederationChronological listing of members of each government ministry in Canada since Confederation, 1867
- Throne SpeechesSpeeches opening parliamentary sessions from 1867 - present.
Government of Canada Publications
On July 5, 2013 the Government of Canada Publications announced it would no longer be printing and distributing print publications. Since that time, materials have been collected and disseminated in electronic format only.
- Government of Canada E-CollectionsPublications produced by various departments and agencies across the Government of Canada.
- Open Government PortalPortal to open source content from various government departments.
- Federal Publications Locator - Library and Archives CanadaAccess to electronic Canadian federal government publications as developed by Library and Archives Canada and the Depository Services Program.
- Weekly Acquisitions ListsPublications catalogued by Publishing and Depository Services Directorate.
- Depository Services Program (DSP) Subject ThesaurusBilingual thesaurus maintained by the Depository Services Program used as a source of subject descriptors for DSP catalogue records.
- Policies, Directives, Standards and GuidelinesCanadian federal policy updates searchable by category and text.
- Canada Treaty InformationSearchable database of treaties with Canada.
Budgets and Annual Reports/Expenditures
Budgets
- Federal Budgets (current and archived)Includes the budget plan, budget in brief, and speech for most years, between 1968-present.
Financial Process
- The Government of Canada Financial CycleCycle that begins with pre-budget consultations, and ends with Public Accounts and the Auditor General’s Report.
- Office of the Auditor General of CanadaRegulatory agency that audits federal government departments and agencies, most Crown corporations, and many other federal organizations, and reports to Parliament.
- Office of the Parliamentary Budget OfficerProvides Parliament with information on the state of the nation's finances; estimates and trends in the Canadian economy; financial costs of proposals under the umbrella of Parliament.
Annual Reports and Expenditures
- Government of Canada Budgets and ExpendituresExpenditure authorities from Parliament that specify the amounts and broad purposes for which funds can be spent.
- Members Expenditures ReportDescribes member expenditures required to perform their respective roles/duties.
- Proactive Disclosure by Department or AgencyDisclosures by department or agency with a redirect to the Open Government Portal.
Statistics and Census
Statistics Canada
- My StatCanA customizable one-stop portal where articles, reports, data tables, indicators, and more can be accessed.
- The DailyDaily releases of data - Monday to Friday 8:30am.
- Canada at a GlanceCurrent statistics, updated yearly, on Canadian demography, education, health and aging, justice, housing, and more.
- Statistics Canada PublicationsGeneral search of Statistics Canada publications that can be refined by subject and year.
Government Department Statistics
Census
- Census ProgramThe census provides a statistical portrait of the country and its people to be used by all levels of government businesses, associations, community organizations and many others to make important decisions.
- Data Tables, 2016 CensusOverview of statistical information on Canada's people, economy and governments
- Community Information DatabaseProvides socio-economic as well as demographic data and information for all communities across Canada.
Historical Statistics and other information
- Government of Canada Web ArchiveArchives websites from the federal government web domain made available from Library and Archives Canada.
Statistics
- Historical Statistics of CanadaContains approximately 1000 statistical tables and documentation on the social, economic and institutional conditions of Canada from the start of Confederation in 1867 to the mid-1970s.
- Canada Year Book Historical CollectionCovers the first century of Canada's history, from 1867 to 1967, with historical text, tables, charts and maps.
- Canada Year Book Past Issues - 2006 - 2012Online collection of past issues - ceased publication in 2013.
Non-government sites
- CanadianaFull text collection of books and pamphlets documenting Canadian history from the first European contact to the late 19th century.
- Peel's Prairie ProvincesA resource dedicated to assisting scholars, students, and researchers in their exploration of western Canadian history. It offers an online bibliography, as well as a searchable full-text collection of many items including a selection of Henderson Directories for Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
- Archives CanadaPortal with searchable catalogue to archival resources from repositories across Canada.