Letter from the Speaker
The Honourable Peter Milliken, M.P.
Speaker of the House of Commons
Photo: © House of Commons/Bernard Clark
As
Speaker of the House of Commons, I am very pleased to
present the Report to Canadians 2006, which
highlights the work of
Members of the House of Commons, and the activities
of the House Administration in support of Members and the
institution.
The past year was a time of adaptation and change for the
House of Commons. For the first time in 25 years, a
minority government was in power, and considerable public
attention was focused on the Commons Chamber. Members and
the House Administration developed new ways of working to
ensure that the nation's business would continue to be
conducted effectively. The 38th Parliament came to an end
with the calling of the general election, a pivotal event
in a parliamentary democracy.
Throughout 2005-2006, debate, decision and representation
continued to be the foundation of Members' work as they
met in the Commons Chamber to discuss legislation.
Bills were presented on a wide range of subjects,
from energy, health care and Internet technology, to
marriage, retirement savings and employment. Members also
asked questions of the government, represented
constituents' views and brought national issues into the
spotlight.
Outside the Chamber, Members studied legislation and
issues in greater depth through their work on Commons
committees. An important feature of committee work is the
opportunity it offers for Canadians to express their
views on the subjects under study. This past year, the
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International
Trade launched an e-consultation process (that is, a
consultation via the Internet) to obtain public input on
Canada's international policy statement.
Helping constituents is an essential part of a Member's
activities. Constituents regularly contact Members for
information about federal government programs or for
assistance in dealing with federal departments. To
increase access to information about the House of
Commons, new features were added to the Parliament
of Canada Web site, which received some 10 million
visits in the past year.
On the international stage, Members met with colleagues
from other countries to discuss issues of common interest
and support democratic institutions. Trade, immigration
and international responsibilities were just some of the
topics on the agenda as Members and House officials met
with representatives from such countries as the Russian
Federation, China, and the Spanish-speaking countries of
the Americas.
To support Members in all of these activities, the
Administration is grouped into five
Service Areas offering specialized expertise in such
fields as parliamentary procedure, human and financial
resources, technology, law, security, building services
and facilities management. Employees work diligently
behind the scenes to provide Members with high-quality
service and maintain the House of Commons as an
institution.
The Report to Canadians provides a look into the
activities of Members and the work of the House of
Commons Administration. It is one component in the House
of Commons' effort to increase the public's understanding
of Canada's parliamentary system, and to maintain high
standards of public-sector governance. I invite you to
read the Report and learn more about the House of Commons
by visiting the Parliament
of Canada Web site.
Peter Milliken, M.P.
Speaker of the House of Commons