The Table

What happens at the Table?

The central Table of the House of Representatives is the focus of activity when the House is sitting. The Clerk and Deputy Clerk sit at the far end of the Table, in front of the Speaker. Immediately in front of the Clerks are the controls for the timing clocks that operate the division bells and lights, and the sandglasses that time the divisions.

The Prime Minister sits at the Table to the Speaker’s right and facing him across the Table is the Leader of the Opposition.

On either side of the Table in front of the Clerks are the despatch boxes. Ministers and shadow Ministers sit on the front benches and walk over to the Table to speak from the despatch boxes.
When the House is sitting, the Mace is placed at the end of the Table farthest from the Speaker’s Chair.
The Table was a gift from the Parliament of Canada for the opening of the new Parliament House in 1988.