How does the Canadian federal government make new laws?

Answer 1

Most laws can be proposed in either the Senate or the House of Commons (though most Government bills are introduced in the House of Commons). Bills that appropriate funds or raise taxes, however, may only be introduced in the House of Commons (as per s. 53 of the Constitution Act, 1867). Once the bill has passed its second reading vote in its House of origin, it is referred to one of that House's legislative committees, which makes recommendations on the bill (if any) and reports it back to that House, which then votes on those recommendations, and then votes on the bill at its third reading stage. Once the bill has passed all of these stages, it is passed on to the other House to repeat the same stages there.

If the second House makes amendments to the bill, then it must be again referred to the House of origin, which can adopt the amendments made by the other place, or insist on the original form of the bill and return it back to the second House. If the bill continues to be bounced between both Houses without agreement, members of the Senate and the House of Commons can designate managers to meet in conference to discuss a possible compromise version of the bill (this option is nearly never exercised).

Once both Houses have agreed on an identical version of the bill, it is passed on to the Governor General for royal assent (for Her Majesty the Queen). This can be done by written declaration, read to both Houses of Parliament, or with a royal assent ceremony where Her Excellency grants royal assent from the throne in the Senate chamber.