Library of Parliament
The past year has been marked by unprecedented change. People all across Canada and around the world had to continually adjust to a situation unlike any they had ever experienced. In the early days of the pandemic and through the months that followed, Members of Parliament, their staff, and House Administration employees all worked tirelessly, demonstrating their agility and adaptability.
When it first convened in 1867, the House of Commons had 181 Members. Today, that number has risen to 338 to keep pace with Canada’s growing population. Each Member of Parliament is elected to represent a constituency in the House. Just as Canada’s population has grown since 1867, so has the makeup of our nation’s constituencies and the Members elected to represent them.
The pandemic resulted in significant changes to how Members carry out their work. Our institution, which is rooted in over 150 years of customs, practices and traditions, had to become more innovative and more flexible than ever so that parliamentarians could continue to perform their duties, even when they could not be physically present on Parliament Hill.
The House of Commons Administration proudly supports the institution of Parliament and its Members. It strives to provide the services, infrastructure, and advice that Members need to carry out their work as legislators and as representatives in the Chamber, in committees, in caucus, and in their offices on Parliament Hill and in their constituencies.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the House Administration has adapted to a new environment while also continuing to focus on its mission to support Members’ parliamentary work by anticipating their needs, responding to their requests, and delivering streamlined, personalized, quality services. While the events of the 2020–2021 fiscal year could not have been predicted, our current strategic plan—launched in 2019—has continued to guide our actions and accomplishments throughout the year.
This section presents a snapshot of 2020–2021 financial information regarding Members of Parliament and the House Administration. For more information on the proactive publication of financial information, see the Reports and Disclosure section of ourcommons.ca.
