Parliament of Canada

The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislature of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, and is composed of three parts: the King, the Senate, and the House of Commons. By constitutional convention, the House of Commons is dominant, with the Senate rarely opposing its will. The Senate reviews legislation from a less partisan standpoint and may initiate certain bills. The monarch or his representative, normally the governor general, provides royal assent to make bills into law.
parliament-of-canada

Some of the key events about Parliament of Canada

  • 1867
    Established the Dominion of Canada through the British North America Act
  • 1867
    Excluded women from voting in federal elections
  • 1876
    Passed the Indian Act, restricting Indigenous rights and autonomy
  • 1885
    Completed the Canadian Pacific Railway, connecting the country coast-to-coast
  • 1885
    Imposed the Chinese Immigration Act, limiting Chinese immigration
  • 1914
    Enacted the War Measures Act, allowing for civil liberties suspension
  • 1917
    Passed the Income War Tax Act, introducing income tax to fund World War I efforts
  • 1918
    Granted federal voting rights to women
  • 1927
    Appointed the first female senator in Canadian history
  • 1939
    Interned Japanese Canadians during World War II
  • 1960
    Enacted the Canadian Bill of Rights, protecting fundamental freedoms and human rights
  • 1969
    Decriminalized homosexuality through the Criminal Law Amendment Act
  • 1970
    Invoked the War Measures Act during the October Crisis
  • 1982
    Patriated the Constitution and enacted the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
  • 1982
    Failed to secure Quebec's agreement to the Constitution Act
  • 1988
    Passed the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, recognizing and promoting cultural diversity
  • 1990
    Introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a controversial consumption tax
  • 2005
    Legalized same-sex marriage nationwide through the Civil Marriage Act
  • 2008
    Prorogued Parliament to avoid a non-confidence vote
  • 2011
    Found in contempt of Parliament for withholding information on costs of programs

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.

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