The Canadian Scene 

This entry is part 11 of 13 in the series Vol 48 No. 2 (Summer)

The Canadian Scene 

New Alberta Speaker

On May 13, 2025, Calgary-Hays MLA Ric McIver was elected by his peers to serve as Alberta’s 15th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The election for a new Speaker was called when the former Speaker Nathan Cooper accepted a new role in Washington DC as a provincial trade representative for Alberta.

Following the election, Speaker McIver told Members that he was grateful for the honour. He added, “I’m committed to everybody on both sides, to honour the traditions of this place, to be nonpartisan, and to help us get through the business of the day every day. You know what? If we have a little fun, great. Not too much fun. Better fun than nastiness. When that happens, we’ll deal with that, too. It’s all part of what we do here. I’m just so grateful.”

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Women First Ministers: Working To Make The Exceptional Completely Unremarkable – An Interview with Kate Graham

This entry is part 2 of 10 in the series Vol 48 No. 1 (Spring)

Women First Ministers: Working To Make The Exceptional Completely Unremarkable – An Interview with Kate Graham

Canada has had only 16 women first ministers. To date, no woman first minister retained has assumed that position, or retained that position, after more than a single general election. Why is that? And why, as of the date of publication, are there only two woman first ministers currently holding office? These are questions Kate Graham has explored in research that has produced two seasons of a podcast, two books, and much discussion among audiences to whom she has spoken. In this one-on-one interview, Canadian Parliamentary Review editorial intern Annie Dowd asks this author and professor how Canadians can change the trend line and ensure the governments we elect are more representative of populations they serve.

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Power Struggles in Parliament: Testimony from Former Federal Parliamentarians

This entry is part 3 of 10 in the series Vol 48 No. 1 (Spring)

Power Struggles in Parliament: Testimony from Former Federal Parliamentarians

The actions of politicians have a profound impact on democracy, and the experience of Canadian MPs highlights major challenges related to hyper-partisanship and the concentration of executive power. Since 2008, the Samara Centre for Democracy has gathered testimonies from over 160 former parliamentarians, shedding light on the evolving role of MPs and the obstacles to balanced governance. Interviewed Members of Parliament in the context of the Samara Centre’s MP Exit Interview Project express growing concerns about the dominance of partisan interests over their parliamentary functions, limiting their autonomy and ability to represent citizens. To address these issues, several reforms are proposed: countering toxic behavior, strengthening the role of the caucus, fostering multi party cooperation and establishing permanent constituency offices. These changes aim to create a more dynamic and inclusive democracy.

Politicians’ actions have a significant impact on the growth or failure of a democracy. In Canada’s current political arena, solidarity and deference are more important than debate and accountability toward citizens.

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Parliament (Un)plugged: Virtual Practices and Procedures Across Canadian Jurisdictions

This entry is part 4 of 10 in the series Vol 48 No. 1 (Spring)

Parliament (Un)plugged: Virtual Practices and Procedures Across Canadian Jurisdictions

Beyond the immediate public health impacts, the COVID-19 pandemic challenged parliaments and parliamentarians to consider new measures to fulfil their parliamentary responsibilities. Introducing virtual practices in chambers across Canada provided opportunities to consider how these technologies could sustain, but also adapt, the functions of legislative bodies: to legislate, debate, scrutinize, and represent. In light of these changes to procedures across Canada, it is important to document how different jurisdictions have modified their practices to utilize virtual communication technologies. This article outlines what virtual practices were implemented during and following the pandemic across Canada in many provincial and territorial legislatures, as well as the House of Commons and Senate of Canada.

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The History of Ontario’s Legislative Research Office

This entry is part 5 of 10 in the series Vol 48 No. 1 (Spring)

The History of Ontario’s Legislative Research Office

With parliamentarians—particularly backbenchers—looking for more support in fulfilling their responsibilities to constituents as well as in lawmaking and oversight of government, demand for library research grew. Soon, it became apparent that a non-partisan research bureau focused on the needs of individual MPPs and legislative committees was the best path forward. In this article, the author examines the evolution of Ontario’s Legislative Research office.

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Canadian Study of Parliament Group Seminar: Parliament and the Media

This entry is part 6 of 10 in the series Vol 48 No. 1 (Spring)

Canadian Study of Parliament Group Seminar: Parliament and the Media

The media landscape is changing rapidly as Canadians obtain their news and information in ways one couldn’t conceive of just a few years ago. The relationship between Parliament and the media is also evolving, as parliamentarians leverage social media and other direct communications tools. On February 21, 2025, the Canadian Study of Parliament Group held a seminar to explore the relationship between Parliament and the media – past, present, and future.

Adam Lauzon

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