Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons

In the simulation, you will:

• ask the first question during Question Period
• vote on a bill
• participate in the second reading debate on a bill, and/or
• propose an amendment to the motion for second reading of a bill

You are the leader of the Official Opposition: the party that finished in second place during the last election. Your role is to question the Government on its actions and policies, and help keep it accountable to Canadians. You frequently oppose the positions of both the Government and the other opposition parties, and you propose alternatives.

You meet with other MPs and Senators from your party regularly to decide on strategies and to confirm your positions on the issues of the day. As the main spokesperson for the party, be prepared for lively discussions, debates and criticism during debates and Question Period.

You also appoint one MP per federal department to act as a critic of the department’s decisions. These MPs make up your Shadow Cabinet.