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| Political Institutions
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Parliament
Buildings
With its
strong stone exterior and picturesque setting on the cliffs overlooking
the Ottawa River, the Parliament buildings are often described as
one of the most beautiful government centres in the world. The buildings
are home to the House of Commons, the Library of Parliament, the
Hall of Honour, the Senate, and the impressive Peace Tower. Summer
on the hill features the Changing of the Guard Ceremony. Few symbols
are as evocative of Canada as the Parliament Buildings. Flanked
by the East and West blocks, the Centre Block of Parliament--with
its distinctive Peace Tower and Library--is familiar to Canadians
and people around the world. Although the buildings are alive with
the drama of modern day debates, the echoes of times and personalities
long since past still linger in the chambers and halls.
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Rideau
Hall
Situated
on 1 Sussex Dr. at the entrance to Rock
cliffe Park,
Rideau Hall is the official residence of the Queen's representative,
the Governor General of Canada. (in Canada's parliamentary democracy,
the Governor General represents Queen Elizabeth II as head of
state.) Since Confederation in 1867, all Governors General have
lived here. The 32-hectare estate features the residence, service
buildings, a visitor centre and extensive grounds and gardens.
As the official residence of the Governor General, Rideau Hall
is a place of dignity, grace and tradition. Unless an official
function is taking place, visitors can have a free access to the
Rideau Hall grounds year round, which provides to the visitors
the visitor center, gift shop, public rooms, ice skating rink
and some special events like the garden party or outdoor concerts.
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Supreme
Court of Canada
Just
a two-minute walk west of the Parliament Buildings on Wellington
street stands the Supreme Court of Canada. Completed in 1946, the
impressively bold structure is crowned with the green copper roofing
that has become a symbol of the nation's capital. As an independent
judiciary branch of the Canadian government, the Supreme Court interprets
the Canadian constitutions and is the highest court of appeal in
the land. It hears criminal and civil cases from the ten provincial
courts, the two territorial courts and from the Federal Court. Generally,
the Supreme Court hears cases where a question of public importance
or an important issue of law needs to be decided.
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