Canada’s Government

Rick Mercer: Everything You wanted to know about Canada (but were afraid to ask) & Discussion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5EEkLOfnqc&feature=related

Canada Government System? Canada = Constitutional Monarchy + Democracy Constitutional Monarchy - A form of government in which the monarch is limited by a constitution. Democracy – Government is chosen by the people, for the people and is removed by the people.

The Role of the Crown The Monarch is the ultimate authority in Canada “The Queen reigns but she does not rule.” The Governor General represents the Queen and acts as a figurehead Michaëlle Jean Does not interfere in the political process; she approves bills providing Royal Assent, dissolves Parliament to start an election and reads the government’s Throne Speech and

Rep vs. Direct Democracy Traditionally places used direct democracy where everyone voted on everything. In Canada we use representative democracy where we elect people to make decisions for us.

Representative Democracy -308 federal ridings in Canada -Each riding has 100,000 people -Each riding elects 1 representative called a Member of Parliament (MP)

Current Parliament Representatives CON LIB BQ NPD IND. Vacant Total Alberta 28   British Columbia 18 6 10 1 36 Prince Edward Island 4 Manitoba 8 3 14 New Brunswick Nova Scotia 2 11 Ontario 40 51 12 106 Quebec 49 75 Saskatchewan Newfoundland and Labrador 7 Nunavut Northwest Territories Yukon National Total 125 94 30 5 308

House of Commons

House of Commons Press Gallery Speaker PM and Cabinet Clerk's Table Visitor's Gallery Visitor's Gallery PM and Cabinet Leader of Opposition & Shadow Cabinet Government Backbenchers Mace Opposition Backbenchers Sergeant-at-Arms Hansard Reporter

Question Period Each day the House of Commons sits, an opportunity is provided for the opposition to direct questions to the government. The Speaker oversees question period to ensure the rules are followed. All questions and other debates in the house are recorded and printed in Hansard (a word-for-word transcript of what is said)

Afghanistan Detainee Issue You Tube Clip on: Afghanistan Detainee Issue -Afghan Taliban prisoner rights had been disregarded -They had been transferred to Afghan ran prisons were torture was occurring -Prisoner transfers were continuing, even though the Canadian government knew, -breaking the Geneva Convention (treatment of prisoners)

PARLIAMENT Executive Branch Legislative Branch Judiciary Branch -Implements Laws -GG, PM, Cabinet, Public Service Legislative Branch -Proposes and makes laws -GG, H of C and Senate Judiciary Branch -Interprets and applies law -Separate from other two branches -Sup. Court of Canada, Federal and Provincial Courts

Branches of Government Exercise Split into groups of 3 Red- Judiciary (Pg. 227,274-5,277-280) Blue- Legislative (Pg. 227-231) Yellow- Executive (Pg. 234-236) Please summarize the information -Focus on your branch's broad role and branch’s components (ie PM, Cabinet, Supreme Court) -Summarize in your own words please!!!!!

Collaborative Note Making Exercise Form groups with the other Branch researchers. Talk about your branch for the 1st minute Then 2-3 minutes to copy the notes 1st Executive 2nd Judicial 3rd Legislative

Summary So…Elections are held to select a candidate from their riding (or constituency) These elected members make the House of Commons From the House of Commons, the leader of the party with the most representatives is asked to be the Prime Minister by the Gov. General The Prime Minister chooses members of the Cabinet from the House of Commons

How Parliament Works http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aealt-etGVs&feature=channel

Canada: The Federal State Three levels of government: -Federal -Provincial/Territorial -Municipal We will study these 3 levels of gov’t later The Canadian Constitution: Outlines the responsibilities of each level of government. Anything not yet discovered outlined by the Constitution becomes the responsibility of the federal government (Residual Powers)

References Carrie Schlappner, 2009 Allie Bach, 2009