Canadian Parliamentary Review – La Revue parlementaire canadienne
Canadian Commonwealth Association – L’ Association parlementaire du Commonwealth
Numerous children have been elected to serve in the same riding as a parent in Canadian parliaments; but Daryl Kramp and his daughter Shelby Kramp-
Neuman hold a unique distinction. Kramp-Neuman was elected to serve as Member of Parliament for Hastings— Lennox and Addington – a riding once held federally by her father – at the same time as the elder Kramp was serving as Member of Provincial
Continue reading “Parliamentary Relatives: The Kramp Family”
It’s been said that language is the roadmap of a culture, revealing both where a people has come from and where they are headed. As we explore “parliamentary language(s),” we can see how our democratic institutions communicate Canada’s history and anticipate our path forward.
As an officially bilingual country, Canada’s federal parliamentarians have the right to use either English of French in debates or proceedings (with simultaneous interpretation to facilitate communication). Other jurisdictions in the country have granted official status to Indigenous languages as well. In Nunavut, Inuktut (Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun) is treated equally with English and French in government services and institutions, while the Northwest Territories recognizes 11 official languages: Dene Kǝdǝ́, Dëne Sųłıné, Dene Zhatıé, Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik, English, French, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, nēhiyawēwin, and Tłı̨chǫ.
From Confederation to the present day, Indigenous cultures – including languages, but also governance practices and other traditions – have been underrepresented across Canadian public institutions. In this article, the author summarizes how action and advocacy by Indigenous MPs, decisions by the House of Commons, and subsequent efforts by the House Administration in recent years have ushered in a new era for the use of Indigenous languages in proceedings.
Keelan Buck
Continue reading “Indigenous Languages in the House of Commons: Moving From Exceptions to Practice”
Multilingualism is a defining characteristic of many Commonwealth nations. As such, the practice of bilingual or multilingual governance, particularly within Parliaments, embodies democratic inclusivity, cultural preservation, and social equity. In this article, the author explores the value of bilingual Parliaments within the Commonwealth, drawing on case studies from Kenya, Canada, South Africa, Wales, and New Zealand. It examines both the benefits and challenges of institutionalizing linguistic diversity in legislative settings and offers recommendations rooted in innovation and participatory governance. *This article is a revised and expanded version of a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association blog post first published on February 21, 2025.
James Pinnell
Continue reading “The Value of Multilingual Parliaments: A Commonwealth Perspective”
Income tax is one of the Government’s main sources of funding and fiscal measures cover all aspects of our lives, from cradle to grave. The concepts are complex, and the terminology concerns every area of human activity. Translating tax laws is therefore a major challenge. In this article, the authors provide a brief history of Québec’s Taxation Act and then call on their experience as translators and revisers of Québec tax laws to discuss the language issues they face daily.
Patrick Tye and Nathalie Polet
A selection of recent publications relating to parliamentary studies prepared with the assistance of the Library of Parliament (March 2025 – May 2025).
“Britain – E-petitions – Protest – Sign of the times.” Economist 454 (9436): 23. February 22, 2025. Continue reading “New and Notable Titles”