Skip to main content

Agenda Game

Choose a picture to start the AgendaGame!

Choose

Agenda

06:00 AM

You have a new email Message

You had previously committed to do a radio interview with a CBC morning show, but just received an invitation via email to attend a working breakfast. Which one do you attend?

Radio Interview

A local CBC reporter wants to interview you about the work of the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development, which you chair.

Working Breakfast

You are invited to the Small Business Week kick-off breakfast at a nearby conference centre.

07:00 AM

Speech
Preparation

You will make a speech this afternoon on a bill being debated in the House. It’s time to prepare your notes. Get ready to answer some questions to help you with your preparations!

Speech Preparation

Quiz

How many MPs are there?
  • 150
  • 250
  • 308
  • 338
How are MPs chosen?
  • They receive more votes than any other candidate during an election in their constituency.
  • They receive over 50% of the votes during an election in their constituency.
  • They are appointed by the leader of their political party.
  • They are appointed by the Governor General, on the advice of the Prime Minister.
No bill can become law in Canada without House of Commons approval.
  • True
  • False
08:00 AM

You have a newVoicemail

Your assistant just called and some of your constituents have popped into your parliamentary office, hoping for a quick picture with you.

Plan Fundraiser

The president of your constituency association is in town for 24 hours and had previously set up a meeting with you to discuss a fund-raiser for next month.

Meet Constituents

A family of constituents from your riding is visiting Ottawa and have shown up at your office. They would like a picture of you with them in front of the Parliament Buildings and a pass for Question Period.

09:00 AM

You have a newVoicemail

Your colleague’s assistant just called to tell you that your replacement for a committee meeting fell through.

Youth Outreach

You had agreed to speak at a school at 9:00 A.M. on the House of Commons Summer Student Employment Program.

Committee Meeting

A meeting of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, on which you sit, is scheduled from 9:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. and your replacement can’t make it.

10:00 AM

Present
a Petition

Your constituents have signed a petition on an important issue and asked that you present it in the Chamber. First, you need to answer some questions to make sure you’re ready!

Present a Petition

Quiz

A public petition is a formal request made to Parliament by Canadian citizens or residents.
  • True
  • False
Petitions can be presented in the:
  • Senate
  • House of Commons
  • Either chamber
In one form or another, petitions have been used for hundreds of years.
  • True
  • False
10:30 AM

You have a new Email

A constituent has sent you an urgent e-mail asking for help, but you’re about to speak in the Chamber.

Help Constituent

A constituent has urgently asked for your help in obtaining information about the status of a visitor visa for his mother who lives overseas.

Table a Report

You are scheduled to table a report in the Chamber concerning the inter-parliamentary delegation that visited Japan.

11:00 AM

Committee
Meeting

The Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament, on which you sit, has scheduled a meeting from 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.. Your assistant has some questions to help you prepare!

Committee Meeting

Quiz

Which of the following statements is false:
  • House of Commons committees cannot meet while the chamber is sitting.
  • House of Commons committees carefully examine bills, which are proposed laws.
  • House of Commons committees meet with over 1000 people annually.
  • House of Commons committees investigate important issues, including children's rights, literacy, poverty and terrorism.
Parliamentary committees can call witnesses, much like courts can.
  • True
  • False
Parliamentary Committees are made up of:
  • Government Members
  • Opposition Members
  • Independent Members
  • All of the above
12:00 PM

You have a new Email

A leader from your community says that she urgently needs your help, but you had a working lunch scheduled.

Working Lunch

You have been asked to attend a luncheon meeting with the Swedish Ambassador to Canada to discuss a recent interparliamentary meeting.

Discuss Plant Closure

One of your constituents is in Ottawa on business and insists on meeting with you to discuss the plant that is closing down in your riding. She says you can help save 500 jobs.

01:00 PM

You have a new text Message

Your assistant just received a call from a reporter, who wants to offer you an interview tomorrow on the national news You need time to prepare for the interview but are already on your way to Rideau Hall.

Order of Canada Ceremony

You are supposed to attend the ceremony for a constituent who is being awarded the Order of Canada.

Interview Preparation

The recent report released by the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, which you chair, is receiving media attention. A national news program wants to interview you about it. You must allow one hour to prepare for the interview.

02:00 PM

Urgentphone call

You represent a constituency an hour’s flight from Ottawa and today is your son’s birthday. A party is planned for the evening. However, amendments to a controversial bill to clean up the environment will likely be voted on at report stage sometime this afternoon. Their passage is not guaranteed. You have been heavily involved in drafting the amendments to the bill and feel strongly about ensuring they are adopted. Your decision right now will affect the rest of your day. Do you:

Travel to your constituency

Remain in Ottawa

02:00 PM

You have a new email Message

You have work to do, even though you’re in transit. Your assistant has helpfully sent you the text from yesterday’s debates, as well as a number of reports and e-mails to review.

TRAVEL + Review Debates

You want to read the statements made on the amendments to the environment bill before this afternoon’s vote.

TRAVEL + Read E-mails

You received three reports and 15 emails yesterday and want to review them.

05:00 PM

You have a newPhone call

You had previously agreed to cut the ribbon at a new school gymnasium, but one of your constituents has just invited you to an open house.

School Opening

A school in your riding is opening a new gymnasium. You have already agreed to come and cut the ribbon.

Open House

Your constituents have invited you to an open house in the evening to explain the current economic situation.

06:00 PM

You have a newText Message

You said you would be home for your son’s birthday, but the President of your local Chamber of Commerce asked you to drop into their meeting tonight.

Chamber of Commerce Meeting

The Chamber of Commerce in your riding would like you to address their monthly meeting (8:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.)

Son’s Birthday Party

It is your son’s birthday and a party is planned for the evening.

02:00 PM

Remain in
Ottawa

You belong to the governing party and will answer a couple of questions during Question Period. Get ready!

Question Period

Quiz

How long is Question Period?
  • 30 minutes
  • 45 minutes
  • 60 minutes
  • 75 minutes
Who can ask questions during Question Period?
  • Members of the official opposition
  • All opposition members
  • Government members
  • All of the above
03:00 PM

House
Duty

As you must remain in the chamber, you need to be ready to participate in the debates. Can you answer these questions?

House Duty

Quiz

Who is responsible for ensuring that all of the rules are followed in the chamber?
  • The Sergeant-at-Arms
  • The Speaker of the House of Commons
  • The Prime Minister
  • The Clerk
Members of Parliament are permitted to speak directly to each other.
  • True
  • False
05:00 PM

You have a newPhone call

You had previously committed to attend a reception, but your assistant just called and they need your signature on some letters.

MP-Page Reception

A House of Commons Page from your constituency has invited you to attend an MP-Page reception in the Speaker’s Salon from 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Respond to Correspondence

Your assistant has prepared 40 responses to letters from your constituents and they need your signature.

06:00 PM

You have a newText Message

You were set to attend a farewell dinner for a retiring MP, but your assistant just alerted you to an invitation at the National Arts Centre.

National Youth Dinner

You have been invited to a dinner at the National Arts Centre for a national youth conference from 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.

Farewell Dinner for MP

You are asked to attend a dinner in Ottawa at Rideau Hall honoring an MP who has served in Parliament for 25 years.

10:00 PM

Congratulations!

You have completed a “day in the life” of a parliamentarian!


Share your results.

06:00AM

Begin your day!

As your day progresses you may need to make choices about how you spend your time. It requires some thought and decision-making to manage your busy agenda.

Congratulations!

You got them all

Play again!