Editing House of Commons of Canada (section)

== Chamber and building characteristics ==
=== Chamber design ===
The current and original Canadian House of Commons [[debating chamber|chamber]] was influenced by the [[British House of Commons]] [[debating chamber#rectangular|rectangular layout]] and that of the original [[St Stephen's Chapel]] in the [[Palace of Westminster]].<ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/estatehistory/reformation-1834/shaping-the-commons-/ The Commons Chamber in the 16th Century – UK Parliament] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122110858/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/estatehistory/reformation-1834/shaping-the-commons-/ |date=November 22, 2011 }}. Parliament.uk (April 21, 2010). Retrieved on April 12, 2014.</ref> The difference from the British layout is with the use of individual chairs and tables for members, absent in the British Commons' design.

With the exception of the legislatures in [[Legislative Assembly of Nunavut|Nunavut]] (circular seating), the [[Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories|Northwest Territories]] (circular seating), and [[Legislative Assembly of Manitoba|Manitoba]] (U-shaped seating), all other Canadian provincial legislatures share the common design of the Canadian House of Commons.

[[File:Stripped House of Commons, December 2018.jpg|thumb|House of Commons Chamber after desks were removed for renovations, December 2018.]]

The [[Public Works and Government Services Canada|Department of Public Works and Government Services]] undertook work during the 41st Parliament to determine how the seating arrangement could be modified to accommodate the additional 30 seats added in the 2015 election. Ultimately, new "theatre" seats were designed, with five seats in a row at one desk, the seats pulling down for use. Such seat sets now form almost the entire length of the last two rows on each side of the chamber.<ref>{{cite web|last1=O'Mally|first1=Kady|title=House of Commons a no-go zone for tourists this summer|url=https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.2689859|website=CBC.ca|access-date=July 25, 2014|archive-date=November 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122081606/http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/news/story/1.2689859|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Seating plan ===
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2022}}[[File:Commons-seats.jpg|right|thumb|The governing party sits to the Speaker's right in the House of Commons.]]
Like the Senate, the House of Commons meets on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The Commons Chamber is modestly decorated in green, in contrast with the more lavishly furnished red Senate Chamber. The arrangement is similar to the design of the Chamber of the British House of Commons.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/G10.pdf 
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611201853/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/G10.pdf |archive-date=June 11, 2009 |title = House of Commons Green|date = March 2009|website = parliament.uk}}</ref> The seats are evenly divided between both sides of the Chamber, three sword-lengths apart (about three metres).<ref>{{cite web |title =Tuesday, June&nbsp;20, 1995 (222) |work =House of Commons Hansard |publisher =Parliament of Canada |url =http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=2332479&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=35&Ses=1#14290 |access-date =September 29, 2007 |archive-date =March 29, 2008 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080329111113/http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=2332479&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=35&Ses=1#14290 |url-status =live }}</ref> The speaker's chair (which can be adjusted for height) is at the north end of the Chamber. In front of it is the [[Table of the House]], on which rests the [[ceremonial mace]]. Various "table officers"—clerks and other officials—sit at the table, ready to advise the speaker on procedure when necessary. Members of the Government sit on the benches on the speaker's right, while members of the Opposition occupy the benches on the speaker's left. Government ministers sit around the prime minister, who is traditionally assigned the 11th seat in the front row on the speaker's right-hand side. The leader of the Official Opposition sits directly across from the prime minister and is surrounded by a Shadow Cabinet or critics for the government portfolios. The remaining party leaders sit in the front rows. Other members of Parliament who do not hold any kind of special responsibilities are known as "backbenchers".

Seating plan for the current House of Commons:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/floorplan | title=House of Commons Seating Plan - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada | access-date=November 5, 2022 | archive-date=November 5, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105022940/https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/floorplan | url-status=live }}</ref>
* Party leaders are italicized. Bold indicates cabinet minister.
{{44th House of Commons Seating Plan}}

=== Member's offices ===
Off Parliament Hill, MPs have some offices at the [[Justice Building]] or [[Confederation Building (Ottawa)|Confederation Building]] down Wellington Street near the [[Supreme Court of Canada|Supreme Court]].

=== Renovations ===
The current chamber is currently undergoing an estimated decade-long restoration and renovation, which began in December 2018.<ref name="centertowest">{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/west-block-parliament-renovations-photos-1.4897864| title=The replacement House of Commons is just about ready| date=November 9, 2018| website=cbc.ca| access-date=December 26, 2018| archive-date=December 26, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226191026/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/west-block-parliament-renovations-photos-1.4897864| url-status=live}}</ref> Parliamentarians have relocated to the courtyard of the 159-year-old [[West Block]] which also underwent seven years of renovations and repairs to get ready for the move.<ref name="centertowest" /><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/grenier-centre-block-qp-1.4942674| title=Trudeau, Scheer spar for what might be the last time in Parliament's Centre Block| first=Eric| last=Grenier| date=December 12, 2018| website=cbc.ca| access-date=December 26, 2018| archive-date=December 26, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226191033/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/grenier-centre-block-qp-1.4942674| url-status=live}}</ref> Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] marked the closing of the [[Centre Block]] on December 12, 2018.<ref>{{cite tweet| user=CanadianPM| number=1072953154977714176| date=December 12, 2018| title=Prime Minister Justin Trudeau marks the closing of Centre Block today in the House of Commons}}</ref> The final sittings of both the House of Commons and the Senate in Centre Block took place on December 13, 2018.