An evolving parliamentary system

Over the years, the modern state has led to a phenomenal increase in the number and complexity of the bills tabled in Parliament. By the early 1970s, concerns about Parliament's effectiveness began to extend to issues beyond the mere elimination of blockages in the legislative process. In the federal election of October 1993, all the major political parties recognized the need for parliamentary reform. In 1994, changes were made to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons to increase the effectiveness of committees and thus give more power to backbenchers. The purpose of the changes was to ensure that the House of Commons would be involved before the government took any decision regarding enactments or specific spending proposals.

	Veritas statue, Supreme Court of Canada, Ottawa Photo: Loui Massicotte

Furthermore, two new options emerged from the legislative process. The first is that a bill may be referred to a committee before second reading in the Chamber of the House of Commons. This gives more leeway to the committee responsible for it. The second is that a committee may be asked to prepare and introduce a bill.

In 1998, other changes to parliamentary procedure were also adopted, allowing more time for private members' business and speeding up the process for passing their bills.