New Parliament, old traditions: Here's what to expect when MPs return this week

The opening days of the 44th Canadian Parliament this week will be steeped in age-old British traditions that may seem a little strange to some.

Things kick off with the election of a Speaker of the House of Commons on Monday. That will be followed Tuesday by Gov. Gen. Mary May Simon's reading of the throne speech, which spells out the government's legislative priorities and officially opens a new session of Parliament.

While members of Parliament can't get down to any parliamentary business until that throne speech has been read, the journey to get there isn't straightforward.

As MPs take their seats in the Commons Monday afternoon for the first time since the election, the Usher of the Black Rod — whose title is derived from the ebony staff he holds as a symbol of authority — will come knocking.

The Usher of the Black Rod is the Queen's messenger in Parliament and is also responsible for Senate security and other ceremonial and administrative duties. The job originated in England in 1348.

Former RCMP superintendent J. Greg Peters has served in the role since 2013.

He'll use the base of his rod to knock on the doors of the Commons chamber three times. Once he's let inside, he'll inform the House that the Governor General's "deputy" — Chief Justice Richard Wagner — wants their immediate attendance in the Senate chamber.

Watch: The Usher of the Black Rod summons MPs to the Senate to hear the throne speech

Some MPs will then get up and follow a procession out of the House, which is typically led by the clerk of the House.

While it used to be easy for MPs to walk down the hall to the Senate for this ritual, massive renovations on Parliament Hill have complicated matters.

The upper chamber's temporary home is now in the Senate of Canada building — once Ottawa's train station — and is about a 10-minute walk from the House chamber in West Block.

So a limited number of MPs will head over there via shuttle bus Monday, only to be told … to go back.

The Senate Speaker will tell the group at the doors of the chamber that the Governor General won't read the throne speech — and in effect won't let MPs get to work — until the House elects a Speaker of its own. So MPs will return to the Commons to do just that.

According to the standing orders, the MP with the "longest period of unbroken service" who isn't a minister or party leader — referred to as the "Dean of the House" — is to be called up to the big green chair to preside over the election of a new Speaker on Monday.