Canada: THE PARLIAMENT: Last Hours

The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Major Charles Rock Lamoureux, rapped three times on the door of the House of Commons. Admitted, he marched stiffly down the aisle, bowing to the Speaker as he approached the dais to announce that the Senate awaited the presence of the Commons. In the form set centuries ago by the Mother of Parliaments, the M.P.s trooped into the Senate Chamber. There, black-robed Mr. Justice Kerwin, filling the role of the vacationing Governor General, gave royal assent to 300 bills. He thereupon declared the third session of the 20th Parliament of Canada prorogued.

The...

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