Members and Constituency Roles in the Canadian Federal System

Abstract

Members of Canada's federal House of Commons are given substantial resources for constituency business, most of which is ombudsman-type service conducted by local offices. MPs consistently rate this work as their most important activity. Members of provincial legislative assemblies also are provided with resources for constituency service work. The article reports on high levels of commitment to constituency work also at the provincial level. Regardless of party stripe, constituency offices at both levels normally co-operate to assist citizens with problems even if they are from other constituencies. The article stresses the relatively non-partisan nature of constituency work given the lack of a strong relationship between service and seat marginality at either federal or provincial levels, and the relative disconnectedness of the party systems between federal and provincial levels.

Keywords:

• Canada
• Members of Parliament
• MPs
• constituency business
• constituency offices
• members of provisional legislative assemblies
• electoral reform