Ottawa: A Visit to Canada's Seat of Government

In my desperate thirst in trying to learn and understand the Government of Canada, (although others claimed that "no one can ever understand the Government of Canada"), I found myself standing atop the Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada where the famous Parliament Buildings are found.

Together with my sister we went through a guided tour inside the Parliament Building where you can find the Chamber/Halls for the House of Commons and the House of Senate.

Canada's Government follows the so-called Bicameral System of Government consisting the "lower house" or the "House of Commons" and the "upper house" or the "Senate". According to the Ms. Meredith (tour guide), the lower house or the House of Commons has 308 seats representing the people from entire nation, while, the Senate got a total of 105 members appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Members of the lower house/commons were democratically elected body and they have limited term of holding their public office up to five years. Each member represents one electoral district of Canada or so-called "ridings".

Canada's House of Senate's Member came from all walks of life. A member might be a Hockey player, an artists, a teacher, etc. Previously, once they become a senator they remain as a member of the Senate until they die, but, the new rule as of now is that they remain as a senator until they retire at the age of 75.

[The Chamber/Hall for the House of Commons. Notice and compare the Chamber of Commons to the Senate, Commons got a green benches while the Senate Chamber got a red benches.]

[The Chamber/hall for the House of Senate in red benches.]

To be continued.....