20 Unusual Facts About Canadian Politics

Canadian politics might seem boring, but it’s full of surprises. From weird laws to funny traditions, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes in the Great White North. Even Canadians don’t know all the odd things about how their country is run.

In this article, I discuss 20 unusual facts about Canadian politics that will make you say, “Really?”

The Ceremonial Mace

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The House of Commons has a special golden mace. It must be present for Parliament to make laws. If the mace isn’t there, no official business can happen. Once, a member picked up the mace in protest, which is a big no-no. The mace shows the Queen’s authority in Parliament.

Maple Leaf Flag Debate

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Canada’s famous maple leaf flag wasn’t always the country’s symbol. In 1964, there was a big argument about changing the flag. The debate lasted 6 months and got pretty heated. Some people wanted to keep the old flag with the Union Jack. In the end, the simple red and white design won.

Parliament’s Peace Tower

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The Peace Tower in Ottawa is like Canada’s Big Ben. It has a huge clock and a carillon with 53 bells. Every day at noon, it plays “O Canada” and other songs. The tower also holds the Books of Remembrance, listing Canadians who died in wars. It’s a symbol of Canadian democracy and remembrance.

The Senate’s Red Chamber

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Canada’s Senate meets in a room called the Red Chamber. It’s very fancy, with red carpet and walls. Senators sit on red chairs, while the House of Commons is all green. This color difference comes from British tradition. The Red Chamber is where many important debates happen.

Inuksuk on Canadian Passport

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Canadian passports have hidden images that show up under UV light. One of these is an inuksuk, a stone landmark used by Inuit people. There are also images of Niagara Falls and fireworks over Parliament. These secret pictures make Canadian passports hard to fake and really cool to look at.

Rideau Hall Gardens

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The Governor General’s home, Rideau Hall, has amazing gardens. They’re so big that it takes 50 gardeners to care for them. The gardens have trees planted by royal visitors and famous people. Each tree has a little sign saying who planted it.

The Centennial Flame

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There’s a special fountain on Parliament Hill called the Centennial Flame. It was lit in 1967 for Canada’s 100th birthday and hasn’t gone out since. The fountain has 12 sides for Canada’s 10 provinces and 2 territories at the time. It’s fueled by natural gas and surrounded by the shields of the provinces and territories.

Question Period Tradition

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Every day in Parliament, there’s a noisy time called Question Period. For 45 minutes, opposition parties can ask the government tough questions. It often gets loud, with lots of shouting and table-banging. This tradition is meant to keep the government accountable. It’s like a daily political quiz show.

Official Residence at 24 Sussex

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The Prime Minister’s official home is at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa. But it’s so old and needs so many repairs that recent Prime Ministers haven’t lived there. Instead, they stay at a different government house nearby. It’s a bit embarrassing that Canada’s leader can’t live in the official house because it’s falling apart.

The Library of Parliament

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The Library of Parliament is a beautiful round building behind the main Parliament. It survived a big fire in 1916 that destroyed most of the Centre Block. The library has over 600,000 books and items. It looks like something from a fairy tale, with wooden carvings and a huge domed ceiling.

Sergeant-at-Arms’ Mace

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The Sergeant-at-Arms carries a big golden mace into the House of Commons every day. This person is in charge of security in Parliament. In 2014, the Sergeant-at-Arms stopped an attack on the Parliament building. The mace and the person carrying it are important symbols of Parliament’s authority.

The Speaker’s Parade

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Every day, the Speaker of the House of Commons leads a formal parade into the chamber. They wear a black robe and a fancy hat. The parade includes the Sergeant-at-Arms with the mace. This tradition goes back hundreds of years and marks the start of each day in Parliament.

Crossing the Floor

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When an MP changes political parties, they literally walk across the floor of the House of Commons. This is called “crossing the floor”. It’s a big deal and doesn’t happen often. The MP moves from sitting with one party to sitting with another. It’s a very visible way of showing a change in political beliefs.

The Usher of the Black Rod

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The Senate has an officer called the Usher of the Black Rod. This person carries a black rod and has special duties. With the rod, they knock on the door of the House of Commons to invite MPs to the Senate for important ceremonies. It’s an old tradition that comes from the British Parliament.

Hansard Reporters

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Special reporters write down everything said in Parliament. This record is called Hansard. These reporters are really fast typists and can write 210 words per minute. They work in short shifts because it’s such hard work. Hansard makes sure there’s a clear record of all debates and decisions.

The Cabinet Room

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The Prime Minister and Cabinet meet in a special room to make important decisions. The room has a painting of the Fathers of Confederation. There’s a big table shaped like a horseshoe. The Prime Minister sits in the middle. Important papers are brought in special red boxes called despatch boxes.

Parliamentary Page Program

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High school students can work in Parliament as pages. They wear uniforms and help MPs during debates. Pages deliver messages, bring water, and do other small jobs. It’s a chance for young people to see how Parliament works up close. Many former pages go on to work in politics.

Chalk River Clause

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There’s a weird rule in Canada’s nuclear safety laws called the Chalk River Clause. It lets the government ignore safety rules in emergencies. This rule came from a problem at the Chalk River nuclear plant in 1952. It shows how one event can create a long-lasting political rule.

The Two-Language Requirement

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Many top government jobs in Canada require speaking both English and French. This includes being Prime Minister or Governor General. It’s because Canada has two official languages. Sometimes this rule makes it hard to find people for important jobs.

The Maple Leaf Gardens Debate

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In 1979, there was a famous election debate in Maple Leaf Gardens, a hockey arena. It was the first time party leaders debated on TV in both English and French. The debate happened where the Toronto Maple Leafs usually played hockey. It mixed politics with Canada’s love of hockey.

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Joy Fadogba

Joy Fadogba is a passionate writer who has spent over a decade exploring and writing about lifestyle topics. With a fondness for quotes and the little details that make life extraordinary, she writes content that not only entertains but also enriches the lives of those who read her blogs. You can find her writing on Mastermind Quotes and on her personal blog. When she is not writing, she is reading a book, gardening, or travelling.