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Context Mr.Wilson – History 404

Abraham Lincoln ( )

 Canada is a constitutional monarchy  What does this mean? “monarchy” #1: We have a head of state, Governor General, who represents the British monarchy In provinces, the Lieutenant Governor does the same thing However, they have NO REAL POWER - Only symbolic

 What does this mean? “constitution” #2: The Canadian Constitution places political power in the hands of voters who elect representatives

No level of government has absolute or total power. They each have their own responsibilities.

 What are the 3 levels of government in Canada? Federal Provincial Municipal  Federal and Provincial governments have defined responsibilities outlined in the British North America (BNA) Act  Municipal responsibilities differ from province to province

Money, trade, shipping, defence and military, criminal law, relations with First Nations, immigration*, agriculture* Responsible for Canada as a whole

Natural resources, health and social services, education, highway transportation, civil law, public security, labour relations, immigration*, agriculture* Responsible for the provinces

Manage road work, recreation infrastructures, cultural activities, sewers, garbage & recycling, firefighters, public transportation Responsible for cities and towns

 Tensions can occur between different levels of government  The federal government can sometimes intervene in areas related to provincial responsibilities  Results in tension!  Usually laws from the superior level overrule those of the lower level

 Ex: Provincial law conflicting with federal charter Bill 101 vs. Charter of Rights and Freedoms

What are the 3 different types of power in Canada? Executive Legislative Judicial

 Executive: Propose the laws (bills) Made up of elected leader and members of the political party with a majority  Legislative: Vote on the laws Made of up elected members of all political parties who represent the population  Judicial: Uphold the laws Made up of courts and judges

 Who holds Executive power? Prime Minister and his Cabinet  Legislative? House of Commons - represent the population  Judicial? Courts (ex. Superior Court & Court of Appeals)

 The Federal Government also has a Senate  Recommended by the PM and appointed by the Governor General  There are an equal number of Senators from each major region.  Work up to age 75  They adopt or insist on changes to Bills before being sanctioned (made official)

 Who holds Executive power? Premier and his Cabinet  Legislative? National Assembly - represent the population  Judicial? Courts (ex. Administrative court, Quebec court)

Voters National Assembly (Legislative Power) Elected Representatives Government (Executive Power) Premier and Cabinet Ministries and Departments Courts (Judicial Power) Administrative Court Quebec Court Lieutenant Governor (British Monarchy) p. 151

 Who hold Executive power? Mayor and his city councillors  Legislative? City council – represents the population  Judicial? Courts (ex. Municipal courts)

What groups have power and try to influence governments in power?

(p. 152)

 Interest Groups develop relationships with Members of the National Assembly [MNA] and pressure them.  This is often done using Lobbyists.

 Lobbyists are those who represent an interest group that wants to influence the legislature.  All of this is to obtain laws that support their cause.  Media…

 Private Enterprise = Conseil du Patronat  This group represents the private business owners in Quebec:  Favour innovation  Investment in private business.  Stable job opportunities.  Labour code  Parental Leave program

 More then 40% of all workers in Quebec are Unionized.  Their main function is to defend the rights of their workers and to negotiate with their employers.  Non-Unionized workers are protected under the Loi sur les normes du travail.

 Fédérations des travailleurs du Quebec (FTQ)  Confédérations des syndicats nationaux (CSN)  Centrale des syndicats du Quebec (CSQ)  Centrale des syndicats démocratiques (CSD)  These four big Unions influence a lot of voters as well as public opinion.  Tactics = protests & strikes

 Professional Orders: Doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc.  Linguistic Groups: Société St-Jean Baptiste, Alliance Quebec  Environmental: Équiterre, Greenpeace  Feminist  Religious  Others?

What is the point of all of these different groups? (From the Government all the way down to these tiny little interest groups…)

 The Federal Government  Prime Minister of Canada:  Stephen Harper

 The Provincial Government  Premier of Quebec:  Jean Charest

 The Municipal Government  The Mayor of Montreal:  Gerald Tremblay

 Interest groups  Unions on strike