The Minister responsible for Democratic Renewal is a portfolio in the Canadian cabinet, associated with the Privy Council Office. The Cabinet of Canada plays an important role in the Canadian government in accordance with the Westminster System. ... In Canada the Privy Council Office is the secretariat of the federal cabinet and the department of the Prime Minister. ...

The position was created by Prime Minister Paul Martin when he succeeded Jean Chrétien in December 2003 under the title Minister responsible for Democratic Reform in order to address the "democratic deficit", an issue Martin campaigned on when he ran for leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. The portfolio was initially held by the government house leader, Jacques Saada, in Martin's first cabinet. After the 2004 Canadian election the portfolio was given to Mauril Bélanger who is the deputy government house leader. When Belinda Stronach crossed the floor from the Conservatives to Liberals on May 17, 2005, she assumed responsibilities for the portfolio along with the post of Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. At this point the title was changed from Democratic Reform to Democratic Renewal. The Prime Minister of Canada, the head of the Canadian government, is usually the leader of the political party with the most seats in the Canadian House of Commons. ... The wrong dishounerable Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC, MP, (born August 28, 1938 in Windsor, Ontario) is the current Prime Minister of Canada. ... The Right Honourable Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien, PC (born January 11, 1934) was the twentieth Prime Minister of Canada, serving from November 4, 1993, to December 12, 2003. ... December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Liberal Party of Canada (French: Parti libéral du Canada) is Canadas largest political party. ... The Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, more commonly known as the Government House Leader, is the Cabinet minister responsible for planning and managing the governments legislative program in the Canadian House of Commons. ... Jacques Saada (born November 22, 1947) is a Canadian Cabinet minister and politician. ... (Redirected from 2004 Canadian election) A Canadian federal election (more formally, the 38th general election) was held on June 28, 2004. ... Mauril Bélanger (born June 15, 1955) is a Canadian Member of Parliament. ... The Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons assists the Government House Leader and coordinates with the Chief Government Whip. ... Belinda Stronach Belinda Stronach (born May 2, 1966 in Newmarket, Ontario) is a Canadian businessperson, politician and a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) in the Canadian House of Commons. ... In politics, crossing the floor is to vote against party lines. ... The Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development of Canada is the member of the Cabinet of Canada responsible for Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the federal department that oversees programs such as Employment Insurance and Canada Student Loans. ...

The minister has been instructed to table an action plan outlining proposals to reform the operations of the Canadian House of Commons in order to increase the role of individual members of parliament in the House and its committees. Proposals include allowing more free votes, giving committees more authority, increase research budgets, allowing chairs of house committees to be elected rather than appointed by the prime minister, giving MPs a role in choosing which committees they sit on rather than having them assigned by the prime minister or government house leader. The House of Commons (French: Chambre des communes) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, which also includes the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the Senate. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament; in the Westminster system, specifically to the lower house. ... A conscience vote or free vote is a type of vote in a legislative body where legislators are each expected to vote according to their own personal conscience rather than according to an official line set down by their political party. ...

External link

• Privy Council Office - Democratic Reform (http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/dr-rd/)