1. Canada’s Government

2. Rick Mercer: Everything
You wanted to know about Canada (but were afraid to ask)
& Discussion

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

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

7. 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

8. House of Commons

9. 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

10. 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)

11. 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)

12. 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

13. Branches of Government Exercise
Split into groups of 3
Red- Judiciary (Pg. 227,274-5, )
Blue- Legislative (Pg )
Yellow- Executive (Pg )
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!!!!!

14. 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

15. 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

16. How Parliament Works

19. 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)

20. References
Carrie Schlappner, 2009
Allie Bach, 2009