Parliament of Canada Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. P-1)

Group Insurance Plans

Marginal note:Eligibility if person not in receipt of allowance

• 71.2 (1) If a person, having reached 50 years of age and having contributed or elected to contribute under the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act as a member for at least six years, ceases to be a member of the Senate or the House of Commons and is not in receipt of an allowance by virtue of subsection 37.1(1) of that Act, the person is deemed to be in receipt of an allowance, other than a withdrawal allowance, under that Act for the purpose of being eligible to participate in the Public Service Health Care Plan, the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan and the Public Service Management Insurance Plan established by the Treasury Board, on the same terms and conditions as apply to persons in receipt of an allowance, other than a withdrawal allowance, under that Act.

• Marginal note:When provision ceases to apply

  (2) Subsection (1) ceases to apply if the person

  • (a) reaches 55 years of age;

  • (b) becomes entitled to receive a disability pension under the Canada Pension Plan or a provincial pension plan similar to it; or

  • (c) becomes a member of the Senate or the House of Commons.

• Marginal note:Eligibility if person in receipt of disability allowance

  (3) A person who is entitled to and elects to receive a disability allowance under section 71.1 is deemed to be in receipt of an allowance, other than a withdrawal allowance, under the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act for the purpose of being eligible to participate in the plans referred to in subsection (1), on the same terms and conditions as apply to persons in receipt of an allowance, other than a withdrawal allowance, under that Act.

Financial Provisions

Marginal note:Payments out of C.R.F.

• 72 (1) There is hereby granted to Her Majesty, out of any unappropriated moneys forming part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, an annual sum sufficient to enable Her Majesty to pay the amount of the sessional allowances of members of Parliament.

• Marginal note:Salary of Parliamentary Secretaries

  (2) The salary of a Parliamentary Secretary under this Act shall be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

• Marginal note:Payments out of C.R.F.

  (3) The sessional allowances payable under subsection 55(10), any supplementary severance allowance payable under subsection 70(6) and any disability allowance payable under section 71.1 shall be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

PART VGeneral

72.01 [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 27]

72.02 [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 27]

72.03 [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 27]

72.04 [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 27]

72.05 [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 27]

72.06 [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 27]

72.061 [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 27]

72.062 [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 27]

72.07 [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 27]

72.08 [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 27]

72.09 [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 27]

72.1 [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 27]

72.11 [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 27]

72.12 [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 27]

72.13 [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 27]

Library of Parliament

Marginal note:Books, etc., vested in Her Majesty

73 All books, paintings, maps and other articles that are in the joint possession of the Senate and the House of Commons, including any additions to the collection of articles, are vested in Her Majesty, for the use of both Houses of Parliament, and shall be kept in a suitable portion of the Parliament buildings appropriated for that purpose.

Marginal note:Administration

• 74 (1) The direction and control of the Library of Parliament and the officers, clerks and servants connected therewith is vested in the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons assisted, during each session, by a joint committee to be appointed by the two Houses.

• Marginal note:Regulations

  (2) The Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament, assisted by the joint committee referred to in subsection (1), may, subject to the approval of the two Houses, make such orders and regulations for the government of the Library, and for the proper expenditure of moneys voted by Parliament for the purchase of books, maps or other articles to be deposited therein, as appear to them appropriate.

Marginal note:Parliamentary Librarian

• 75 (1) The Governor in Council may, by commission under the Great Seal, appoint a Parliamentary Librarian to hold office during pleasure.

• Marginal note:Rank and duties

  (2) The Parliamentary Librarian has the rank of a deputy head of a department of the Government of Canada and, subject to section 74, has the control and management of the Library.

• Marginal note:Associate Parliamentary Librarian

  (3) The Governor in Council may, by commission under the Great Seal, appoint an Associate Parliamentary Librarian to hold office during pleasure who, in addition to any duties defined in respect of the office under section 78, shall execute and perform the duties and functions of Parliamentary Librarian during the absence, illness or other incapacity of the Parliamentary Librarian or during a vacancy in the office of Parliamentary Librarian.

• Marginal note:Other officers and employees

  (4) The officers, other than the Parliamentary Librarian and the Associate Parliamentary Librarian, and the clerks and servants who are authorized by law and required for the service of the Library may be appointed in the manner prescribed by law to hold office during pleasure.

Marginal note:Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate

• 75.01 (1) There is hereby established the position of Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate, the holder of which is an officer of the Library of Parliament.

• Marginal note:Selection

  (2) The Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons, acting together, shall select the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate from a list of three names reflective of Canada’s diversity, consistent with the principle that the primary official language spoken by the holder shall alternate and submitted in confidence by a committee chaired by the Parliamentary Librarian and also composed of the Director of the National Gallery of Canada, the Commissioner of Official Languages for Canada, the Chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts and the President of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, or their designates.

• Marginal note:Tenure of office

  (3) The Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate holds office for a term not exceeding two years, at the pleasure of the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons acting together.

• Marginal note:Mandate

  (4) The mandate of the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate is to promote the arts in Canada, through Parliament, including by fostering knowledge, enjoyment, awareness and development of the arts.

• Marginal note:Powers

  (5) In carrying out their mandate, the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate may

  • (a) produce or cause to be produced artistic creations, at the request of either Speaker, especially for use in Parliament on occasions of state;

  • (b) sponsor artistic events, including art exhibitions;

  • (c) give advice to the Parliamentary Librarian regarding the collection of the Library and acquisitions to enrich the Library’s cultural holdings; and

  • (d) perform such other related duties as are requested by either Speaker or the Parliamentary Librarian.

• Marginal note:Definition of arts

  (6) In this section, arts means drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, photography, videography, filmmaking and digital creations that reflect the diversity of Canada, including with respect to the languages in use and its ethnocultural composition.

Marginal note:Parliamentary Poet Laureate

• 75.1 (1) There is hereby established the position of Parliamentary Poet Laureate, the holder of which is an officer of the Library of Parliament.

• Marginal note:Selection

  (2) The Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons, acting together, shall select the Parliamentary Poet Laureate from a list of three names submitted in confidence by a committee chaired by the Parliamentary Librarian and also composed of the Librarian and Archivist of Canada, the Commissioner of Official Languages for Canada and the Chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts.

• Marginal note:Term

  (3) The Parliamentary Poet Laureate holds office for a term not exceeding two years, at the pleasure of the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons acting together.

• Marginal note:Roles and responsibilities

  (4) The Parliamentary Poet Laureate may

  • (a) write poetry, especially for use in Parliament on occasions of state;

  • (b) sponsor poetry readings;

  • (c) give advice to the Parliamentary Librarian regarding the collection of the Library and acquisitions to enrich its cultural holdings; and

  • (d) perform such other related duties as are requested by either Speaker or the Parliamentary Librarian.

Marginal note:Salaries of Librarians

• 76 (1) Each of the Librarians appointed under subsections 75(1) and (3) shall receive such salary as that Librarian is by law authorized to receive.

• Marginal note:Salaries of other officers and employees

  (2) The salaries of the officers, other than those referred to in subsection (1), and of the clerks and servants of the Library shall be fixed according to the scale provided by law.

Marginal note:Payment

77 The salaries of the officers, clerks and servants of the Library of Parliament and any casual expenses connected therewith shall be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament for that purpose.

Marginal note:Duties of Librarians and staff

78 The Parliamentary Librarian, the Associate Parliamentary Librarian and the other officers, clerks and servants of the Library are responsible for the faithful discharge of their official duties, as defined, subject to this Act, by regulations agreed on by the Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament and concurred in by the joint committee referred to in section 74.

Marginal note:Stationery

79 The supply of stationery required for the use of the Library shall be furnished by the Department of Public Works and Government Services and charged to the Houses of Parliament.

Parliamentary Budget Officer

Marginal note:Purpose

79.01 Sections 79.1 to 79.5 provide for an independent and non-partisan Parliamentary Budget Officer to support Parliament by providing analysis, including analysis of macro-economic and fiscal policy, for the purposes of raising the quality of parliamentary debate and promoting greater budget transparency and accountability.

Marginal note:Appointment

• 79.1 (1) The Governor in Council shall, by commission under the Great Seal, appoint a Parliamentary Budget Officer after consultation with the following persons and after approval of the appointment by resolution of the Senate and House of Commons:

  • (a) the Leader of the Government in the Senate or Government Representative in the Senate, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and the Leader or Facilitator of every other recognized party or parliamentary group in the Senate; and

  • (b) the leader of every recognized party in the House of Commons.

• Marginal note:Experience and expertise

  (1.1) The Parliamentary Budget Officer shall have demonstrated experience and expertise in federal or provincial budgeting.

• Marginal note:Tenure

  (2) The Parliamentary Budget Officer holds office during good behaviour for a term of seven years but may be removed for cause by the Governor in Council on address of the Senate and House of Commons.

• Marginal note:Reappointment

  (3) The Parliamentary Budget Officer may be reappointed for one or more terms of up to seven years each. However, the Parliamentary Budget Officer shall serve no more than 14 years in office in total.

• Marginal note:Interim appointment

  (4) In the event of the absence or incapacity of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, or if that office is vacant, the Governor in Council may appoint any person to hold that office in the interim for a term not exceeding six months, and that person shall, while holding office, be paid the remuneration and expenses that may be fixed by the Governor in Council.

• Marginal note:Remuneration and expenses

  (5) The Parliamentary Budget Officer shall be paid the remuneration and expenses fixed by the Governor in Council.

Marginal note:Deputy head

• 79.11 (1) The Parliamentary Budget Officer has the rank of a deputy head of a department of the Goverment of Canada and has the control and management of the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

• Marginal note:Powers to contract

  (2) The Parliamentary Budget Officer may, in carrying out the work of the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, enter into contracts, memoranda of understanding or other arrangements.

• Marginal note:Staff

  (3) The Parliamentary Budget Officer may employ any officers and employees and may engage the services of any agents and mandataries, advisers and consultants that the Parliamentary Budget Officer considers necessary for the proper conduct of the work of the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

• Marginal note:Technical assistance

  (4) The Parliamentary Budget Officer may engage on a temporary basis the services of persons having technical or specialized knowledge necessary for the proper conduct of the work of the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

• Marginal note:Authorization

  (5) The Parliamentary Budget Officer may, subject to the conditions that he or she sets, authorize any person to exercise any powers under subsections (2) to (4) on behalf of the Parliamentary Budget Officer that he or she may determine.

• Marginal note:Salaries

  (6) The salaries of the officers and employees of the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer shall be fixed according to the scale provided by law.

• Marginal note:Payment

  (7) The salaries of the officers and employees of the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, and any casual expenses connected with the office, shall be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament for that purpose.

• Marginal note:Estimate to be prepared

  (8) Before each fiscal year, the Parliamentary Budget Officer shall cause to be prepared an estimate of the sums that will be required to pay the charges and expenses of the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer during the fiscal year.

• Marginal note:Inclusion in government estimates

  (9) The estimate referred to in subsection (8) shall be considered by the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons and then transmitted to the President of the Treasury Board, who shall lay it before the House of Commons with the estimates of the government for the fiscal year.