Cost of Canadian Parliament? A Look Inside Canada's Federal Legislature

Sara Santos-Vigneault
Sep 8
5 min read

Written by: Sara Santos-Vigneault

Date: September 8th, 2025

Canadian Parliament building in Ottawa with green copper roofs under a clear blue sky, surrounded by trees and a street with people and banners. — Image by <a href

Total net cost to operate Parliament (2024–25): 757.9 million dollars

Canada’s Parliament does not operate year-round. When it is in session, it does not meet every day. For most Canadians working full-time, it may come as a surprise that federal lawmakers earn six-figure salaries, qualify for lifetime pensions, and continue to be paid even when the House of Commons is not sitting.

The question of how many days Parliament works, what it costs to run, and what happens during suspensions or prorogations is not just about political process. It is also a matter of public accountability.

How Many Days Does Parliament Sit?

Each calendar year, the House of Commons typically sits for about 130 to 135 days, or roughly 27 weeks. These are the days when elected Members of Parliament (MPs) are present in Ottawa to debate legislation, vote on bills, attend committees, and carry out official duties in the chamber.

The remaining two-thirds of the year consists of scheduled breaks, including winter and summer recesses, constituency work periods, and holiday adjournments.

According to Section 5 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Parliament must meet at least once every 12 months [1].

What Happens When Parliament Is Paused, and Do MPs Still Get Paid?

When Parliament is prorogued, all legislative activity stops. This includes debates, votes, and committee meetings. Bills that have not passed are removed from the order paper and must be reintroduced when the next session begins.

Members of Parliament continue to receive their full salaries and allowances during this time.

In January 2025, Parliament was prorogued at the request of the Prime Minister. The House of Commons did not sit, and no new laws were passed. Despite this, each MP received approximately 47,000 dollars in pay during the period of prorogation [2][3].

Prorogation is not the same as a regular break or recess. It is a decision made by the executive branch to formally end a parliamentary session. It resets the legislative calendar and halts the progress of all bills currently under consideration.

While legislative work stops, compensation for MPs does not.

What Was Trudeau Doing While Parliament Was Paused?

On January 6, 2025, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau advised the Governor General to prorogue Parliament. This was confirmed by a Royal Proclamation published in the Canada Gazette, formally suspending the House of Commons until March 24, 2025 [4].

During prorogation, no debates were held, no bills were passed, and all committee activity ceased [5].

Despite the pause in Parliament, the Prime Minister remained active. Trudeau announced his intention to step down as both Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party, triggering a leadership race for his successor [6][7].

The Prime Minister also continued to respond to pressing national issues, including trade tensions with the incoming U.S. administration. Government operations continued under caretaker convention [8][9][10].

Canadian Parliament Gothic-style clock tower and building set against a clear blue sky, with a green lawn in the foreground and people walking nearby. — **Image by** **Tobias Reinsch** **from** **Pixabay**

How Prorogation Amplifies Executive Power

Prorogation halted legislative business, but the government continued operating in a caretaker capacity. Cabinet ministers remained in place, decisions were made, and the public service continued delivering federal programs [8].

However, because Parliament was not sitting, the Prime Minister was not required to consult MPs, face questioning, or receive parliamentary approval for executive decisions.

The Prime Minister retains full decision-making power, even without parliamentary oversight [11][12][13].

While caretaker conventions suggest governments should limit activity, there is no legal requirement enforcing restraint. The executive can continue to govern with full authority.

This concentration of authority raises serious concerns about democratic accountability, especially when prorogation is used in politically sensitive moments [11][14].

Salaries, Allowances, and Operating Costs

Members of Parliament receive a base salary of 209,800 dollars as of 2025. MPs in cabinet or leadership roles receive more.

The Prime Minister earns 406,200 dollars, and Senators receive about 184,800 dollars annually [15][16][17].

MPs also receive an annual office and operations budget exceeding 360,000 dollars, which covers travel, staffing, communications, and constituency work [18].

These allowances remain in effect during recesses and prorogation.

What Does It Cost to Run Parliament?

Managing Parliament comes with a significant price tag. According to House of Commons financial data:

Total net operating expenses reached 643.5 million dollars in 2024–25 [19]
When non-cash services are included, the total net cost of operations reached 757.9 million dollars [19]

Breakdown includes:

Digital services and real property: 106.2 million dollars
Parliamentary precinct operations: 42.7 million dollars
Procedural and admin support services: over 64 million dollars

Long-term capital costs include:

Centre Block renovations: over 4 billion dollars, extending through 2031 [20]
Parliament Hill rehabilitation projects: an additional 3 billion dollars [21]

These costs do not decrease when Parliament is not in session. Staff, infrastructure, and operational expenses continue regardless of sitting status.

Parliamentary Pensions

MPs qualify for a public pension after just six years of service, under the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act [22].

Pension amounts for long-serving MPs may exceed 100,000 dollars annually, indexed to inflation and paid for life.

Transparency and Accountability

MPs are required to disclose expenses, including travel, accommodation, and constituency budgets.

These are published through the House of Commons proactive disclosure portal [23].

However, transparency does not always result in full accountability, particularly when Parliament is not active.

Parliament by the Numbers: What It Really Costs

Total net cost to operate Parliament (2024–25): 757.9 million dollars [19]
Direct operating expenses (House administration, MPs, services):643.5 million dollars [19]
MPs' base salary (2025):209,800 dollars per MP [15]
Annual MP office and operations budgets (per MP):Over 360,000 dollars [18]
Prime Minister’s salary (2025):406,200 dollars [16]
Senators’ base salary (2025):184,800 dollars per Senator [17]
MP pension eligibility: After six years, with annual payouts exceeding 100,000 dollars possible for long-serving members [22]
Sitting days in the House of Commons per year:130 to 135 days, or roughly one-third of the calendar year [1]
Remaining two-thirds of the year: Adjournments, recesses, constituency work periods, or prorogation — with full pay and allowances still in effect
Centre Block renovations (long-term capital):4 billion dollars, extending to 2031 [20]
Other Parliament Hill rehabilitation projects:3 billion dollars [21]

Parliament by the Numbers: Recap

Parliament costs Canadian taxpayers more than 750 million dollars annually, with elected MPs sitting in the House of Commons for roughly one-third of the year.

The remainder is made up of scheduled recesses, constituency work, and occasional prorogations—periods during which salaries, allowances, and operational expenses continue.

These numbers reflect the broader conversation about cost, representation, and the structure of Canada’s democratic institutions.