Opening of the Parliament of Canada

It involves summons from the governor general on behalf of the monarch and a ceremony based on the same in the United Kingdom,[1] though less elaborate and now evolved to include uniquely Canadian elements.

At the same time as the governor general drops the writ for a federal election, the governor general also issues a royal proclamation 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 Constitution Act, 1867).

[2] These read as follows: TO ALL WHOM these Presents shall come or whom the same may in any way concern, Greeting: A proclamation Whereas We are desirous to meet Our People of Canada as soon as may be and to have their advice in Parliament;

Therefore We, by these Presents, command each of you and all others interested in this behalf to appear in person on [date], at [time] 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, ordain.

While both include the monarch, governor general, or another delegate reading the throne speech, they are differentiated by scale: Larger openings, called bench openings, require a rearrangment of the seating in the Senate to accommodate the number of official guests—the justices of the Supreme Court, lieutenant governors, former prime ministers, members of the King's Privy Council for Canada, members of the diplomatic corps, and any spouses—and the galleries are reserved for other guests.

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 [or her] excellency the governor general does not see fit to declare the causes of his [or her] summoning of the present Parliament of Canada, until a speaker of the House of Commons shall have been chosen, according to law; but tomorrow, [date], at [time], his [or her] excellency will declare the causes of his [or her] calling this parliament."

[6] Accompanied by four officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the governor general usually rides in the State Landau, often accompanied by the viceregal consort, between Rideau Hall and Parliament Hill, where the governor general inspects a Canadian Armed Forces guard of honour.

[7] 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.

[13] Ahead of the opening of the provincial legislature, the lieutenant governor of British Columbia, representing the Canadian monarch, arrives at the Parliament Buildings to a 15-gun salute fired by cannons brought into Victoria's inner harbour.

The debate is regarded as the address in reply, begun by a minister of the Crown tabling a motion supporting the viceroy's speech.

An Act Respecting Oaths of Office is introduced by the minister of justice as a pro forma bill, symbolizing the independence of the legislature from the Crown.

The Parliament Buildings of Canada
Governor General the Earl of Athlone, with his wife and viceregal consort , Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone , arriving at the Centre Block for the opening of the 20th Canadian Parliament , 6 September 1945; though hostilities had ceased four days earlier, Canada was still technically at war
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh , at the opening of Parliament, 14 October 1957. The justices of the Supreme Court sit at centre, in front of the monarch. The mace bearer stands at far right. The Prime Minister , John Diefenbaker , sits to the sovereign's immediate right.
The Parliament Buildings of British Columbia in Victoria
The speaker 's chair, used by the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia as a throne from which to deliver the throne speech in the legislative chamber of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia