Government Structure
Canada’s government is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. Let’s look at what each of those mean.
Federal State
There are three levels of government and a division of responsibility between those levels: the federal, the provincial/territorial and the local (municipal) governments.
Every province has its own elected Legislative Assembly, just like the House of Commons in Ottawa (more on this in the Parliamentary Democracy section). Provincial legislatures are made up of the Lt. Governor and the elected assembly.
The three northern territories do not have the same status as provinces, but do have their own governments and assemblies. First Nations, for example, have their own band chiefs and councilors, who have major responsibilities, such as housing and schools, on First Nation’s reserves.
Parliamentary Democracy
In a parliamentary democracy, the people elect members to the House of Commons in Ottawa. The representative’s responsibilities include passing laws and keeping the government accountable.
Parliament has three parts:
Both the House of Commons (the representative chamber) and the Senate review laws to become law. A bill cannot become law until both chambers pass it and royal assent has been given (on behalf of the Governor General—the Sovereign’s representative).
Constitutional Monarchy
Under a Constitutional Monarchy, Canada’s Head of State is the hereditary Sovereign (Queen or King), who reigns in accordance with the Constitution and plays an important non-partisan role in the government.
In Canada, there is a clear distinction between the head of state (the Sovereign) and the head of government (the Prime Minister): the Prime Minister directs the governing of the country the Sovereign does not.
How is the Sovereign represented in Canada?
Branches of Government
There are three branches of government:
Each province and territory has its own elected legislature, where provincial and territorial laws are passed. Each province has a Premier (a similar role to that of Prime Minister at the federal level) and a Lieutenant Governor (a similar role to that of the Governor General at the federal level), or a Commissioner as they are called in the three territories.
Let’s look at how the executive and legislative branches are voted in.
Voting
General elections are held on the 3rd Monday of October every four years.
There are 308 electoral districts (also known as ridings or constituencies) that are geographic areas represented by a Member of Parliament (MP). Canadian citizens, 18 or older, from each electoral district, vote for the candidate of their choice. The candidate with the most votes is elected MP for that district.
Voting Requirements
In addition to the requirement of being a citizen age 18 or older to vote, you must also be on the voter’s list. This list is created from the National Register of Electors and it is a permanent data base of Canadian citizens 18 or older. If you are not on the list, your name can be added at any time, including on election day.
Once an election is called, voter information cards are mailed. On this card is the when and where to vote along with a special services number to call.
Voting Procedures
Outlined below are the steps on voting:
After the Election
The leader of the political party with the most seats in the House of Commons forms the government by invitation of the Governor General. The leader becomes the Prime Minister and if the party in power holds at least half of the seats in the House of Commons, this is the majority government. The party that holds less than half the seats in the House is called the minority government.
The other parties not in power are known as opposition parties whose role it is to oppose or try to improve proposals. The opposition party with the most members in the House of Commons is known as the Official Opposition or Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.
There are three major political parties currently represented in the House of Commons:
The current federal government leaders and party’s they represent are:
After the election, there is no change to the Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II or to the Queen’s representative in Canada, the Governor General, who at present is David Johnston.
That covers the executive and legislative branches of the government, but what about the Judicial branch?