Author: revparlc

Working life on the Hill

This entry is part 2 of 12 in the series Vol 46 No. 3 (Autumn)

Working life on the Hill

Members of Parliament (MPs) are the institution’s most public face. Supporting them are the skilled and dedicated employees of the House of Commons Administration (House Administration), who anticipate MPs’ needs and deliver personalized, streamlined, quality services.

As one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, the House Administration is committed to helping its employees realize their full potential. It offers them many opportunities for career development and advancement, and even opportunities for a career change if they would like to try something new in a different field. As the House of Commons supports a hybrid and flexible workforce, its employees have been able to work in a hybrid format since 2020. The hybrid work environment is a combination of remote and on-site work, meaning that some employees may work on-site on a full-time basis, while others may alternate between working on-site and from home.

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Building Connections and Sharing Best Practices: Parliamentary Service Organizations

This entry is part 3 of 12 in the series Vol 46 No. 3 (Autumn)

Building Connections and Sharing Best Practices: Parliamentary Service Organizations

Parliaments do not operate as silos. Parliamentarians are keenly aware of debates occurring among their colleagues across the country and internationally. Legislation adopted in one jurisdiction is often studied and consulted when another parliament is considering a similar issue. And, every year, parliamentarians attend meetings and conferences, such as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s gatherings, to meet their counterparts, discuss their roles and systems of governance, and forge important networks to exchange information. Many parliamentary service staff have developed their own organizations for similar reasons. In this roundtable, the Canadian Parliamentary Review invited representatives of some of these groups to discuss the work their membership does and how their membership benefits from participating in groups that facilitate networking and information sharing.

Participants: Gerry Burla, Andrew Henry, Deanna Wilson, and Bruce C. Young

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The “Administrator of Everything”: Parliamentary Support Staff in Smaller Jurisdictions – An Interview with Helen Fitzsimmons

This entry is part 4 of 12 in the series Vol 46 No. 3 (Autumn)

The “Administrator of Everything”: Parliamentary Support Staff in Smaller Jurisdictions – An Interview with Helen Fitzsimmons

With a career spanning 46 years as an employee of the Government of Yukon, including the past 21 years serving the Yukon Legislative Assembly, Helen Fitzsimmons was feted by MLAs, colleagues and peers on April 27, the last sitting day of the 2023 Spring Sitting. With unanimous consent, the Assembly delivered tributes to Helen at the end of the sitting day. Extraordinarily, also with unanimous consent, Helen then addressed the Assembly. (The last time that the rare honour of addressing the Assembly had been conferred by the Yukon Legislative Assembly upon someone had been in 2011 when the House recessed to receive an address by Governor General David Johnston). Although normally only the first hour of the sitting day is videotaped, the tributes and address were recorded and posted on the Assembly’s Facebook page. The gallery, which had been empty minutes earlier, filled to capacity for this tribute. Visitors present included Yukon’s current senator, Yukon’s former senator, a former Yukon Premier, a former Commissioner, a former Speaker, former Ministers and MLAs, former party leaders, former Chiefs of Staff and Principal Secretaries, former Clerks, current and past Legislative Assembly Office staff and caucus staff, as well as some of Helen’s friends and family. Everyone present showed great admiration and love for Helen and was eager to hear her say a few words about what her career and time at the Assembly meant to her. In this interview conducted before her summer retirement, Helen shares more insight into her life as a long-serving parliamentary support staff employee in a smaller jurisdiction.

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“Beyond a Frequent Flyer”: How an Ontario MPP Uses Parliamentary Support Services – An Interview With Peter Tabuns

This entry is part 5 of 12 in the series Vol 46 No. 3 (Autumn)

“Beyond a Frequent Flyer”: How an Ontario MPP Uses Parliamentary Support Services – An Interview With Peter Tabuns

First elected in 2006, Ontario MPP Peter Tabuns (Toronto—Danforth) knows his way around Queen’s Park and has become well acquainted with the staff who keep it running. In this interview, he explains how he relies on Assembly employees as he fulfills his duties as a representative and why he admires their professionalism.

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Behind the Scenes: The Assemblée nationale’s Team of Translation Professionals

This entry is part 7 of 12 in the series Vol 46 No. 3 (Autumn)

Behind the Scenes: The Assemblée nationale’s Team of Translation Professionals

Quebec’s history of legislative translation dates back to the beginning of the British regime. In this article, the author examines how this service has evolved and explains the process for ensuring legislative texts are translated, revised and proofed to a standard that befits a province whose language and unique Civil Code are fundamental components of its identity.

Elizabeth Reeve

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“Other Duties as Required”: Conference Planning and Hosting in a Small Jurisdiction

This entry is part 8 of 12 in the series Vol 46 No. 3 (Autumn)

“Other Duties as Required”: Conference Planning and Hosting in a Small Jurisdiction

Parliamentary service offers support and guidance to elected and appointed officials in their workplaces so they can fulfill their role in our parliamentary democracies. In small legislatures, this mandate is often executed with a fraction of the staff found in larger jurisdictions. Yet, parliamentarians in small jurisdictions have the same duties and responsibilities as their counterparts in larger jurisdictions and these officials deserve the same support and guidance. In this article, the author provides the Prince Edward Island perspective on parliamentary service, with a focus on conference planning and hosting operations. Specifically, she explains how the jurisdiction facilitated the 58th Annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Canadian Regional Conference from July 16 – 22, 2022 – one of the first in-person parliamentary conferences hosted in Canada following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emily Doiron

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The Canadian Scene

This entry is part 9 of 12 in the series Vol 46 No. 3 (Autumn)

The Canadian Scene

59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Canadian Regional Conference

From July 22-29, 2023, 61 delegates and a dozen other accompanying persons attended the 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Canadian Regional Conference in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference

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New and Notable Titles

This entry is part 10 of 12 in the series Vol 46 No. 3 (Autumn)

New and Notable Titles

A selection of recent publications relating to parliamentary studies prepared with the assistance of the Library of Parliament (June 2023 – August 2023).

Bélanger, Daniele, Laurence Simard-Gagnon, Adele Garnier, and Gabriel Bergevin-Estable. “Immigration Emergency Rooms – Constituency Offices and Assistants as the front line of immigration to Canada.” World Migration Dynamics, 1-41 (May 2023).

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