Hansard is the official verbatim transcript of debates and proceedings in the House of Commons and Senate, named after Thomas Curson Hansard who printed British parliamentary debates in the 19th century. Every speech, question, response, and procedural statement is recorded, transcribed, and published, creating a permanent public record of parliamentary proceedings. Hansard serves multiple purposes: documenting legislative history, enabling courts to interpret legislative intent, holding politicians accountable for their statements, and allowing citizens to follow parliamentary business. Both federal Parliament and provincial/territorial legislatures produce Hansard records. Modern Hansard is available online, often within hours of debates occurring, and is searchable by date, topic, member, or keyword. Video recordings complement the written record. Hansard differs from edited meeting minutes—it captures everything said, including interruptions, points of order, and off-topic remarks. Reading Hansard provides insight into how legislation develops and how representatives engage with issues.