Royal Assent in the Senate Chamber

The Governor General signed attestation documents in the Chambers of the Senate Speaker in the presence of the Prime Minister of Canada the Right Honourable Stephen Harper and Leaders of Government in the Senate and the House of Commons the Honourable Marjory Lebreton and the Honourable John Baird.

By tradition, Royal Assent is accorded in the Senate Chamber in the presence of members of the House and Senate.

Royal Assent is granted by a representative of the Crown to approve a bill passed by the House of Commons and the Senate, making it into an Act of Parliament. Royal Assent is therefore the last stage in the legislative process and assembles the three constituent entities of Parliament (Crown, Senate, House of Commons).

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, granted Royal Assent to bills during a formal ceremony in the Senate Chamber, on December 15, 2010. This was the Governor General’s second Royal Assent since his installation ceremony on October 1, 2010. His first royal assent was by written declaration on November 18, 2010.

Since the Royal Assent Act of 2002, it may be signified by a written declaration by the governor general or by a deputy of the governor general (one of the justices of the Supreme Court).