217:
426:
372:
205:) to summon the members of the House of Commons to the Senate. Once assembled, the speaker addresses the congregation, stating "honourable members of the Senate, members of the House of Commons: I have it in command to let you know his excellency the governor general does not see fit to declare the causes of his summoning of the present Parliament of Canada, until a speaker of the House of Commons shall have been chosen, according to law; but tomorrow, , at , his excellency will declare the causes of his calling this parliament." The
279:. Once the viceroy is in the Parliament building, the usher of the Black Rod is again sent to call the members of the House of Commons to the Senate. Upon arrival at the bar of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Commons addresses their counterpart in the Senate, asserting the rights and privileges of the Commons and its members. The speaker of the Senate, on behalf of the governor general, responds that the Crown will "recognise and allow their constitutional privileges". The governor general, seated on
17:
135:
291:
The address is followed by a debate and vote in both houses of
Parliament. Formally, the motion merely calls on Parliament to thank the monarch or viceroy for the speech via an address in reply. Until 1897, this was a more detailed message, covering the content of the throne speech point by point.
112:
Therefore We, by these
Presents, command each of you and all others interested in this behalf to appear in person on , at at Our City of Ottawa, for the DISPATCH OF BUSINESS, to treat, do, act, and conclude upon those things that Our Parliament of Canada may, by the Grace of God,
300:
To Her
Excellency the Right Honourable , Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
196:
The opening of the first session of a parliament takes place over two days; the opening of a subsequent session of the same parliament requires only one day. On the first, routine business is conducted. After such is concluded, the speaker of the Senate commands the
318:
in the government, which, if lost, would result in the end of that government's mandate. This discussion and vote follows a symbolic raising of other matters, designed to highlight the independence of
Parliament from the Crown; a practice that originated after
307:
We, His
Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the Senate of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of
89:
We do hereby, by and with the advice of Our Prime
Minister of Canada, summon and call together the House of Commons of Canada, to meet at Our City of Ottawa, on , then and there to have conference and treaty with the Senate of
67:
summoning
Parliament—setting the date for the opening of the next parliament following the election (though, the date may be amended by subsequent proclamations, so long as Parliament eventually meets as required by the
313:
The debate is, however, often wide-ranging, exploring many aspects of the government's proposed policies, and spread over several days. When the address in reply is eventually voted on, the poll is held to constitute a
508:
bill, symbolizing the independence of the legislature from the Crown. The address in reply is made following debate on the throne speech, initiated by a cabinet minister and seconded by another and a speech from the
784:
189:, do not require the removal of senators' desks, as guests are limited to the justices of the supreme court, invitees of the governor general and prime minister, and the deans of the diplomatic corps. The
460:. After the viceroy has commanded the assembly to elect a speaker, and has approved the new speaker, the lieutenant governor declares the new legislative session open. The viceroy, typically wearing
387:
100:
To Our beloved and faithful SENATORS of Canada, and MEMBERS elected to serve in the House of
Commons of Canada, and to all whom these Presents may in any way concern,
386:
Inside the legislative chamber, where members of the
Legislative Assembly (MLAs), invited guests, and the press have gathered, the lieutenant governor takes the
461:
216:
498:
Once the speech is concluded and the lieutenant governor departs, the speaker takes his or her chair. An Act
Respecting Oaths of Office is introduced by the
488:
430:
406:
210:
119:
345:
257:
510:
161:
Canada has two types of opening for the federal Parliament. While both include the monarch, governor general, or another delegate reading the
394:
376:
353:
555:
889:
445:
438:
361:
143:
457:
434:
182:
425:
283:, then reads the throne speech, during which the Senate's mace is held by the Mace Bearer, who stands to the side of the throne.
225:
740:
198:
190:
487:
Inside the assembly chamber, the seargeant-at-arms announces the lieutenant governor's arrival. The latter is escorted to the
409:
may criticize the government's priorities. The vote on the speech, however, is of paramount importance, as it is considered a
185:, members of the diplomatic corps, and any spouses—and the galleries are reserved for other guests. Smaller openings, called
371:
884:
874:
253:
596:
449:
178:
139:
879:
793:
526:
414:
261:
41:
513:. This is often when new members of the assembly will make their maiden speech. The address in reply remains on the
477:
380:
53:
33:
248:, although this can and has been done by the sovereign themselves or another representative. For example, Queen
814:
736:
675:
233:
151:
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Whereas We are desirous to meet Our People of Canada as soon as may be and to have their advice in Parliament;
495:. The viceroy then delivers the throne speech, setting out the ministry’s agenda for the legislative session.
410:
315:
229:
174:
123:
786:"My Lords and Gentlemen": A Study of British Origins and the Evolution of the Canadian Throne Speech Genre
245:
162:
155:
69:
465:
402:
324:
273:
453:
320:
206:
29:
60:
16:
413:; if the majority of MLAs vote against the throne speech, the ministry must either resign or the
349:
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establishes the guest list, though the size of the ceremony is determined by the prime minister.
64:
37:
653:
751:
587:
531:
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328:
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56:
499:
237:
170:
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That the following Address be presented to His Excellency the Governor General of Canada
276:
269:
845:
491:'s chair, which is used for the occasion as a throne, though the province does have a
437:
as a throne from which to deliver the throne speech in the legislative chamber of the
368:
in front of the legislature before entering the building via the ceremonial entrance.
252:
gave the speech from the throne in 1957 and 1977. Accompanied by four officers of the
868:
244:
As the King's representative, the governor general attends Parliament to deliver the
759:
390:'s chair as the throne. From there, the viceroy recites the speech from the throne.
249:
221:
147:
126:
can summon Parliament (though they, like the other deputies, may not dissolve it).
232:
sit at centre, in front of the monarch. The mace bearer stands at far right. The
514:
265:
517:
for the entirety of the session and may, at any moment, be called for debate.
134:
77:
TO ALL WHOM these Presents shall come or whom the same may in any way concern,
44:, though less elaborate and now evolved to include uniquely Canadian elements.
473:
357:
755:
480:
and flag party. The lieutenant governor then enters Province House through a
397:'s agenda as spelled out in the throne speech. The debate is regarded as the
504:
481:
228:, at the opening of Parliament, 14 October 1957. The justices of the
154:, 6 September 1945; though hostilities had ceased four days earlier,
95:
A later proclamation gives the precise time for parliament to open:
424:
370:
215:
133:
15:
405:
tabling a motion supporting the viceroy's speech. At this point,
173:
to accommodate the number of official guests—the justices of the
656:(Press release). Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. 2015
393:
Thereafter, six days are set aside for the MLAs to debate the
165:, they are differentiated by scale: Larger openings, called
32:
following a general election. It involves summons from the
464:, arrives at the parliament building, being greeted by a
417:
must advise the lieutenant governor to call an election.
344:
Ahead of the opening of the provincial legislature, the
138:
Governor General the Earl of Athlone, with his wife and
825:(1). Ottawa: King's Printer for Canada. 16 October 2007
815:"Debates of the Senate, 2nd Session, 39th Parliament"
213:. The speech itself is delivered the following day.
109:
Whereas Our Parliament of Canada was dissolved on ;
292:Today, in the Senate, it takes the form of simply:
723:
708:
696:
640:
628:
616:
295:
169:, require a rearrangment of the seating in the
98:
75:
8:
256:, the governor general usually rides in the
719:
717:
581:
579:
577:
554:Legislative Assembly of British Columbia,
240:, sits to the sovereign's immediate right.
181:, former prime ministers, members of the
511:leader of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition
377:Parliament Buildings of British Columbia
272:, where the governor general inspects a
209:then return to the Commons to elect the
28:is the commencement of a session of the
844:Nova Scotia Legislature (8 June 2017),
676:"Delivering the government's blueprint"
543:
456:, by the monarch's representative, the
346:lieutenant governor of British Columbia
563:, Queen's Printer for British Columbia
468:guard of honour and band, taking the
7:
654:"Speech from the Throne Infographic"
549:
547:
446:Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia
439:Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia
156:Canada was still technically at war
144:Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone
458:lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia
444:Following a general election, the
435:lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia
26:opening of the Canadian parliament
20:The Parliament Buildings of Canada
14:
850:, King's Printer for Nova Scotia
226:Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
484:formed by the official escort.
364:. The viceroy will inspect the
331:, an Act Relating to Railways.
304:MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:
183:King's Privy Council for Canada
586:Senate of Canada (June 2015),
407:His Majesty's Loyal Opposition
360:fired by cannons brought into
323:was tried and executed by the
1:
750:, King's Printer, p. 3,
589:Senate Procedure and Practice
254:Royal Canadian Mounted Police
40:and a ceremony based on the
794:Library and Archives Canada
527:State Opening of Parliament
260:, often accompanied by the
122:, only the justices of the
120:governor general's deputies
906:
890:Speeches by heads of state
847:Opening of the Legislature
72:). These read as follows:
63:, he or she also issues a
42:same in the United Kingdom
741:"Parliamentary Elections"
597:King's Printer for Canada
737:House of Commons Library
362:Victoria's inner harbour
211:speaker for that chamber
152:20th Canadian Parliament
52:At the same time as the
678:. CBC. 12 November 2008
327:. In the Senate, it is
201:(usually called simply
150:for the opening of the
783:Woods, Henrik (2011),
441:
433:'s chair, used by the
383:
335:Provincial parliaments
310:
246:speech from the throne
241:
199:usher of the Black Rod
158:
115:
92:
70:Constitution Act, 1867
21:
724:Senate of Canada 2015
709:Senate of Canada 2015
697:Senate of Canada 2015
641:Senate of Canada 2015
629:Senate of Canada 2015
617:Senate of Canada 2015
466:Canadian Armed Forces
428:
403:minister of the Crown
374:
325:Parliament of England
274:Canadian Armed Forces
219:
207:members of Parliament
191:speaker of the Senate
137:
130:Opening of parliament
19:
885:Parliament of Canada
875:Ceremonies in Canada
354:Parliament Buildings
316:motion of confidence
179:lieutenant governors
30:Parliament of Canada
500:minister of justice
348:, representing the
880:Opening ceremonies
739:(September 2008),
442:
384:
242:
159:
146:, arriving at the
65:royal proclamation
22:
557:The Throne Speech
532:Thrones of Canada
395:Executive Council
352:, arrives at the
262:viceregal consort
140:viceregal consort
36:on behalf of the
897:
859:
858:
857:
855:
841:
835:
834:
832:
830:
811:
805:
804:
803:
801:
791:
780:
774:
773:
772:
770:
765:on 25 March 2009
764:
758:, archived from
745:
733:
727:
721:
712:
706:
700:
694:
688:
687:
685:
683:
672:
666:
665:
663:
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638:
632:
631:, pp. 41–42
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583:
572:
571:
570:
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472:, followed by a
399:address in reply
350:Canadian monarch
340:British Columbia
238:John Diefenbaker
61:federal election
54:governor general
34:governor general
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493:separate throne
448:is summoned to
423:
411:confidence vote
366:guard of honour
342:
337:
311:
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277:guard of honour
270:Parliament Hill
132:
116:
106:A proclamation
93:
83:A proclamation
50:
12:
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450:Province House
422:
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415:prime minister
341:
338:
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321:King Charles I
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234:Prime Minister
167:bench openings
131:
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74:
57:drops the writ
49:
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13:
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474:15-gun salute
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462:civil uniform
459:
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401:, begun by a
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358:15-gun salute
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230:Supreme Court
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187:desk openings
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175:Supreme Court
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163:throne speech
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43:
39:
35:
31:
27:
18:
852:, retrieved
846:
839:
827:. Retrieved
822:
818:
809:
800:30 September
798:, retrieved
785:
778:
767:, retrieved
760:the original
748:Factsheet M7
747:
731:
726:, p. 44
711:, p. 43
704:
699:, p. 42
692:
680:. Retrieved
670:
658:. Retrieved
648:
643:, p. 45
636:
624:
619:, p. 41
612:
601:, retrieved
599:, p. 40
588:
565:, retrieved
556:
503:
497:
486:
478:Citadel Hill
470:royal salute
443:
398:
392:
385:
343:
312:
306:
303:
299:
296:
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258:State Landau
250:Elizabeth II
243:
222:Elizabeth II
202:
195:
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148:Centre Block
117:
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82:
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51:
25:
23:
796:, p. 6
769:19 November
682:20 November
603:15 November
515:order paper
421:Nova Scotia
308:Parliament.
266:Rideau Hall
869:Categories
854:6 February
829:2 December
660:3 December
595:, Ottawa:
567:6 February
538:References
281:the throne
264:, between
103:Greeting:
80:Greeting:
756:0144-4689
505:pro forma
203:black rod
521:See also
381:Victoria
329:Bill S-1
819:Hansard
489:speaker
482:phalanx
454:Halifax
431:speaker
388:speaker
118:Of the
113:ordain.
90:Canada.
48:Summons
38:monarch
754:
287:Debate
220:Queen
171:Senate
59:for a
790:(PDF)
763:(PDF)
744:(PDF)
593:(PDF)
561:(PDF)
502:as a
452:, in
356:to a
856:2023
831:2009
802:2015
771:2009
752:ISSN
684:2015
662:2015
605:2015
569:2023
429:The
375:The
268:and
224:and
24:The
823:144
476:on
379:in
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817:.
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