Canadian Government The structure of our government

The Structure

The Queen Leads the executive branch of the gov’t Leads the executive branch of the gov’t Technically makes and applies government decisions Technically makes and applies government decisions Essentially a figure head Essentially a figure head

Governor General David Lloyd Johnston David Lloyd Johnston Appointed by the Queen, recommended by the Prime Minister Appointed by the Queen, recommended by the Prime Minister The Queen’s representative in Canada The Queen’s representative in Canada Works on the advice of the PM, most of the time Works on the advice of the PM, most of the time The GG calls elections, usually on the advice of the PM The GG calls elections, usually on the advice of the PM Position held for 5 years Position held for 5 years

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Conservative Party of Canada Stephen Harper, Conservative Party of Canada Elected Elected Voice of the nation and head of the gov’t Voice of the nation and head of the gov’t Leader of the cabinet Leader of the cabinet Has the power to appoint cabinet, federal boards, Crown corps, and other gov’t agencies Has the power to appoint cabinet, federal boards, Crown corps, and other gov’t agencies Approves candidates Approves candidates

Cabinet Appointed by the PM, chosen from elected Members of Parliament Appointed by the PM, chosen from elected Members of Parliament Size varies, can be changed whenever the PM feels like it but is approx. 30 members Size varies, can be changed whenever the PM feels like it but is approx. 30 members Each MP has a portfolio or ministry that they are responsible for Each MP has a portfolio or ministry that they are responsible for Recommends laws to the House of Commons Recommends laws to the House of Commons Creates gov’t policy Creates gov’t policy

Right Hon. Stephen Harper Prime Minister Right Hon. Stephen Harper Prime Minister Hon. Bernard Valcourt Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Hon. Bernard Valcourt Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Hon. Rob Nicholson Minister of National Defence Hon. Rob Nicholson Minister of National Defence Hon. Peter MacKay Minister of Justice Attorney General of Canada Hon. Peter MacKay Minister of Justice Attorney General of Canada Hon. Rona Ambrose Minister of Health Hon. Rona Ambrose Minister of Health Hon. Diane Finley Minister of Public Works and Government Services Hon. Diane Finley Minister of Public Works and Government Services Hon. John Baird Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. John Baird Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Tony Clement President of the Treasury Board Hon. Tony Clement President of the Treasury Board Hon. Jim Flaherty Minister of Finance Hon. Jim Flaherty Minister of Finance Hon. Peter Van Loan Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Hon. Peter Van Loan Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Hon. Jason Kenney Minister of Employment and Social Development Minister for Multiculturalism Hon. Jason Kenney Minister of Employment and Social Development Minister for Multiculturalism Hon. Gerry Ritz Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Hon. Gerry Ritz Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Hon. Christian Paradis Minister of International Development Minister for La Francophonie Hon. Christian Paradis Minister of International Development Minister for La Francophonie Hon. James MooreMinister of Industry Hon. James MooreMinister of Industry Hon. Denis Lebel Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec; President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada; Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs Hon. Denis Lebel Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec; President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada; Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs Hon. Leona AglukkaqMinister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency ; Minister for the Arctic Council; Minister of the Environment Hon. Leona AglukkaqMinister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency ; Minister for the Arctic Council; Minister of the Environment Hon. Lisa Raitt Minister of Transport Hon. Lisa Raitt Minister of Transport Hon. Gail Shea Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Hon. Gail Shea Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

Hon. Julian Fantino Minister of Veterans Affairs Hon. Julian Fantino Minister of Veterans Affairs Hon. Steven Blaney Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Hon. Steven Blaney Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Hon. Ed Fast Minister of International Trade Hon. Ed Fast Minister of International Trade Hon. Joe Oliver Minister of Natural Resources Hon. Joe Oliver Minister of Natural Resources Hon. Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay Minister of National Revenue Hon. Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay Minister of National Revenue Hon. Shelly Glover Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Hon. Shelly Glover Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Hon. Chris Alexander Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Hon. Chris Alexander Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Hon. Kellie Leitch Minister of Labour; Minister of Status of Women Hon. Kellie Leitch Minister of Labour; Minister of Status of Women Hon. Maxime Bernier; Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism, and Agriculture) Hon. Maxime Bernier; Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism, and Agriculture) Hon. Lynne Yelich; Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular) Hon. Lynne Yelich; Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular) Hon. Gary Goodyear; Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) Hon. Gary Goodyear; Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) Hon. Rob Moore; Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) Hon. Rob Moore; Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) Hon. John Duncan; Minister of State Hon. John Duncan; Minister of State Hon. Tim Uppal; Minister of State (Multiculturalism) Hon. Tim Uppal; Minister of State (Multiculturalism) Hon. Alice Wong; Minister of State (Seniors) Hon. Alice Wong; Minister of State (Seniors) Hon. Bal Gosal; Minister of State (Sport) Hon. Bal Gosal; Minister of State (Sport) Hon. Kevin Sorenson; Minister of State (Finance) Hon. Kevin Sorenson; Minister of State (Finance) Hon. Pierre Poilievre; Minister of State (Democratic Reform) Hon. Pierre Poilievre; Minister of State (Democratic Reform) Hon. Candice Bergen; Minister of State (Social Development) Hon. Candice Bergen; Minister of State (Social Development) Hon. Greg Rickford; Minister of State (Science and Technology, and Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario) Hon. Greg Rickford; Minister of State (Science and Technology, and Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario) Hon. Michelle Rempel; Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification) Hon. Michelle Rempel; Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification)

Prime Minister’s Office Serves the PM as leader of the party Serves the PM as leader of the party Politically appointed staff, not elected Politically appointed staff, not elected Organize and schedule the PM Organize and schedule the PM Run opinion polls Run opinion polls Create a positive image of the PM Create a positive image of the PM Offer political advice Offer political advice

Privy Council Office Headed by a civil servant, not elected – Clerk of the Privy Council Headed by a civil servant, not elected – Clerk of the Privy Council PM’s department of government PM’s department of government Serve PM as leader of the gov’t Serve PM as leader of the gov’t Ensures all info is at Cabinet meetings Ensures all info is at Cabinet meetings Unlimited access to PM Unlimited access to PM Deals with Cabinet ministers Deals with Cabinet ministers

Ministries Public service Public service Work for the government but not elected Work for the government but not elected

Additional Terms Private members bill – a non cabinet MP proposes a bill in HOC Private members bill – a non cabinet MP proposes a bill in HOC Shadow Cabinet – critics to cabinet Shadow Cabinet – critics to cabinet Official Opposition – the party that makes up the second largest number of seats in the HOC, currently the NDP Official Opposition – the party that makes up the second largest number of seats in the HOC, currently the NDP Backbenchers – not in the cabinet or shadow cabinet Backbenchers – not in the cabinet or shadow cabinet

Legislative Branch Make and amend laws Make and amend laws Determines how the gov’t spends our taxes Determines how the gov’t spends our taxes

Parliament PM is the head of parliament PM is the head of parliament Sits in session from September to June Sits in session from September to June If the HOC rejects a cabinet recommendation the PM and cabinet resign – vote of non- confidence If the HOC rejects a cabinet recommendation the PM and cabinet resign – vote of non- confidence

House of Commons Members of Parliament, MP’s, are elected Members of Parliament, MP’s, are elected 5 year term 5 year term Voted in federal ridings across the country Voted in federal ridings across the country The speaker of the House is elected by MPs The speaker of the House is elected by MPs No money is spent in government without HOC approval No money is spent in government without HOC approval Represent Canadians Represent Canadians

Senate Appointed by GG on recommendation of PM Appointed by GG on recommendation of PM Reviews and approves HOC legislation, becomes law Reviews and approves HOC legislation, becomes law 105 members representing provinces and territories 105 members representing provinces and territories alVideo/SenFilmToc-e.asp alVideo/SenFilmToc-e.asp alVideo/SenFilmToc-e.asp alVideo/SenFilmToc-e.asp Senators hold their seat for life Senators hold their seat for life

Judicial Branch Supreme Court, Federal Court and Tax Court Supreme Court, Federal Court and Tax Court Judges, serve justice, independent, Judges, serve justice, independent, constitutional, criminal and civil law constitutional, criminal and civil law