Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate Explained

Post:Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate
Native Name:Poète officiel du Parlement du Canada
Incumbent:Marie-Célie Agnant
Reports To:Library of Parliament
Appointer:Speaker of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Commons
Termlength:2 years
Constituting Instrument:Parliament of Canada Act
Formation:2001
First:George Bowering
Salary:20,000

The Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate (French: Poète officiel du Parlement du Canada) is the national poet laureate of Canada. The current poet laureate is Marie-Célie Agnant.

The position is an office of the Library of Parliament.

Role

According to the laureate's official Web site: "The Poet's role is to encourage and promote the importance of literature, culture and language in Canadian society. Federal legislators created the position in 2001 to draw Canadians' attention to poetry, both spoken and written, and its role in our lives."[1]

The Parliament of Canada Act states that the laureate may:[1]

The laureate serves at the pleasure of both the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons, with the maximum term of office set at two years.[2]

The position comes with an annual stipend of $20,000, up to $13,000 in travel expenses annually, a budget for administrative expenses and translation/adaptation into Canada's second official language.[2]

Selection criteria

In order to be chosen for the position, a poet must have:[3]

Poets Laureate

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/poet/index.asp?lang=e
  2. http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/poet/index.asp?lang=e&param=1
  3. http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/poet/index.asp?lang=e&param=5
  4. Dory Cerny, "Georgette LeBlanc named Canada’s new parliamentary poet laureate". Quill & Quire, February 13, 2018.
  5. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2021/02/03/louise-bernice-halfe-chosen-as-canadas-new-parliamentary-poet-laureate.html "Louise Bernice Halfe chosen as Canada’s new parliamentary poet laureate"