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Parliament Buildings |
House of Commons | The Senate
| The Queen |
The Cabinet |
The Prime Minister |
The Opposition |
Members of Parliament |
The Speaker |
Parliamentary
Procedure | Bill to Act
| Committee System |
Question Period
If any one institution
represents the many facets of the Canadian character it
is the Parliament at Ottawa. Parliament is concerned
with all the people, with all the provinces and
territories, with all of the racial and ethnic
communities. The very word parliament is derived form
the french word parler which means to talk and talking
is what Parliament does most of the time. Sometimes it
may talk too much and it is true that debate can
sometimes become acrimonious. But in a country where
freedom of speech is highly prized this must sometimes
be expected.
Most Canadians are familiar in one way or another with
the famous group of buildings which dominates the Ottawa
skyline. They are probably the most photographed
buildings in Canada and they attract thousands of
visitors every year. They house the nation's legislators
and have become the visual symbol of the Canadian
tradition of Government.
The House of Parliament were first built
in 1865 and the first Federal Parliament of Canada
assembled there on November 6, 1867. The original
building was completely destroyed by fire on February 3,
1916, while the House of Commons was in session. Seven
people lost their lives. The Library of Parliament, the
picturesque building at the rear of the Centre Block,
was saved. According to one report, this was due to the
foresight of then Librarian who closed the iron doors
leading into the library before the fire could take
hold. Another report gives credit to Arthur Meighen, who
later became Prime Minster. It is not known to this day
what caused the fire, but a Royal Commission which was
appointed to investigate reported that arson could not
be ruled out.
Work began shortly afterwards on a new building and
Parliament's first session in its new home was opened on
February 126, 1920.
The central feature of the Parliament
Buildings is the Peace Tower, a noble campanile in the
finest tradition of gothic architecture. It houses the
Memorial Chamber, a beautiful shrine which in turn
houses the Memorial Chamber, a beautiful shrine which in
turn house the Book of Remembrance. Together they
commemorate the sacrifice of those Canadians who died in
the service of their country. The Peace Tower is also
notable for the four-faced clock which looks out in all
directions over the cities of Ottawa and Hull and the
surrounding country and for a fine Carillion of 53 bells
on which the carillonneaur gives regular recitals.
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