Members of Parliament

Members of Parliament

Selection Process

There are normally 308 Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Canadian House of Commons.

They are elected in a general election, which is usually called every four or five years, or in a by-election when a seat in the House of Commons becomes empty due to resignation or death.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Representing constituents in Parliament

• MPs represent the regional and local concerns of the constituents in their ridings (also called electoral districts or constituencies) in the House of Commons.

• MPs solve problems for constituents on a wide variety of federal government matters from checking on individual problems with federal government departments to providing information on federal government programs and policies.
  
  
• MPs also maintain a high profile in their ridings and participate in local events and official functions there.

2. Making laws

• Although public servants and cabinet ministers have direct responsibility for drafting new legislation, MPs can influence legislation through debates in the House of Commons and during all-party committee meetings to examine legislation.

• Votes on legislation in the House of Commons are usually a formality following party lines, but during a minority government, the votes can be of strategic importance.
  
  
• MPs can also introduce legislation of their own, called private member's bills; however, rarely does a private member's bill pass.

3. Watchdogs on government

• MPs can influence federal government policy by participating in House of Commons committees that review federal government department activities and spending as well as legislation.

• MPs raise policy issues in caucus meetings of MPs of their own party and can lobby cabinet ministers.
  
  
• MPs in opposition parties use the daily Question Period in the House of Commons to raise issues of concern and bring them to the attention of the public.
  
  

4. Party supporters

• An MP usually belongs to a political party and has a role in the operation of the party.

• A few MPs may sit as independents and do not have party responsibilities.
  
  

5. Offices

• MPs maintain two offices with corresponding staff-one on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and one in the constituency.

• Cabinet ministers also maintain an office and staff in the departments for which they are responsible.

Adapted from © 2009 by Susan Munroe. (http://canadaonline.about.com/cs/parliament/a/rolemps.htm).

Used with permission of About, Inc. which can be found online at www.about.com. All rights reserved.
Adapted from "Role of Canadian Members of Parliament" by Susan Monroe. About.com Canada Online http://canadaonline.about.com.
Adapted from Online Guide to Implementation © 2008 Alberta Education (www.learnalberta.ca)