House of Commons

At the west end of the Centre Block, the House of Commons Chamber and its foyer present a fascinating blend of stateliness and vibrancy.

House of Commons Chamber

In the House of Commons Chamber, Members of Parliament assemble to debate issues and make laws for all Canadians.

The Speaker's chair is the focal point of the room. Government members sit on the right hand of the Speaker, while members of the Opposition parties sit on the left. Above and behind the Speaker's chair are the galleries for the public, the media, distinguished visitors and political staff.

The House of Commons, in layout and design, reveals the British origins of our parliamentary system. The colour, the placement of the seats and many of the ceremonies and traditions suggest a connection to a history that extends far past Canada's early beginnings. Yet as the scene of debates that have shaped Canada, as a room covered with Canadian symbols and as a place where all Canadians are represented, this Chamber is at the heart of Canadian democracy.

At the head of the Chamber, the Speaker presides over the action. Assisted by the Clerk and other table officers, the Speaker ensures the House of Commons moves through its daily agenda and rules on disputes about practices or procedures.

Seated to the Speaker's right is the Government, led by the Prime Minister. To the left sit the Official Opposition led by the Leader of the Opposition, other parties, independent Members and some government Members.

Working on behalf of Canadians, Members have roles as varied and complex as the people they represent. They are a part of the most passionate and often heated debates in Canada. From the pointed questioning of daily Question Period to the prolonged debates about proposed legislation, these moments have shaped Canada's destiny.

The chamber is as rich in symbolism as it is in history. Provincial and territorial flowers glitter in stained glass windows and Canadian wildlife runs through the ornate white borders.

From the stone creatures of prehistory, carved by the current Federal Sculptor, to its ancient origins, this is a room steeped in history. From the legendary words and passions of past Parliamentarians to the speeches yet to be spoken by today's members and the Canadians who witness it all, it is also a room at the core of our democratic system.

House of Commons Foyer

The Foyer is probably most familiar to Canadians as the setting for the ritual known as "the scrum", where Members of Parliament field questions, surrounded by journalists, cameras and tape recorders, following Question Period and debates in the House of Commons.

The House of Commons Foyer is the meeting place of many of the elements of Parliament and Centre Block. Parliamentarians' offices ring its edges, the media and Members meet on its floor to bring the stories of the day's debates and decisions into homes all across Canada and its shape combines a sombre atmosphere with fantastical sculpted detail.

Of the rooms in Centre Block, this one best combines the solemnity of the purpose of Parliament with the vibrancy of its people and its past. Vaulted ceilings, marble floors and dramatic lighting provide the setting for the lively exchanges between journalists and Parliamentarians and for the passage of one of the House of Commons' most ancient traditions, the Speaker's Parade.

Like the on-going evolution of Parliament and Canada, the creation of this room has been the work of many designers, artists, sculptors and workers over many years. Rebuilt from 1916 to 1920 after the fire, its decoration is still not complete.

Two broad bands of sculpture circle the foyer. Eleanor Milne completed the lower wide band of ten panels in 1975 after 13 years of work. She combined art, history and philosophy to bring to life thousands of years of history. In the upper band, flowers of the provinces curl around their coats of arms. Separating the provinces are representations of Canada's industries and the people who drive them.

The earliest sculptures in this room, exaggerated human faces and mythical beasts, carved in 1919 mix easily with the work of the Native Sculptors Series. The carved and painted faces of Canada's past Prime Ministers and other members of the House of Commons assist today's media in keeping a watchful eye on their successors.