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Role of a Parliamentary Secretary in Canada


Responsibilities:

A parliamentary secretary is a member of parliament assigned to assist a cabinet minister. In some cases a parliamentary secretary may be assigned to assist the prime minister or several cabinet ministers.


Appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries

Parliamentary secretaries are appointed by the prime minister. Parliamentary secretaries work under the direction of a cabinet minister or ministers.


House Duties

  • One of the prime responsibilities of a parliamentary secretary is work in parliament.
  • a parliamentary secretary provides a key link between a cabinet minister and parliament
  • a parliamentary secretary works with House of Commons and Senate committees, shares department information with committees and acts as the minister's representative on political issues. A parliamentary secretary is also expected to bring the concerns of committee members to the minister, and in a broader sense to the government.
  • a parliamentary secretary acts as a liaison between the cabinet minister and caucus
  • a parliamentary secretary answers questions during Question Period in the absence of the minister.

Government Department Duties
A parliamentary secretary also has responsibilities in relation to a government department or an assigned policy area.

  • a parliamentary secretary may be assigned specific policy-related duties either by the prime minister or by the cabinet minister. The cabinet minister maintains overall accountability and responsibility.
  • a parliamentary secretary assists in liaison between parliamentary committees and the relevant government departments and agencies.
  • a parliamentary secretary also helps caucus members in their liaison with relevant government departments.

Every cabinet minister is accompanied by a parliamentary secretary, who answers questions in the House of Commons when his or her minister is absent and shepherds legislation through the House and its various committees. Those tapped to be parliamentary secretaries not only get a pay bump -- they earn an extra $15,600 on top of their annual MP salary of about $155,000 -- but are also on the inside track for a possible promotion to cabinet minister.