1. The Canadian Government System

2. So far, we have learned:
The government is divided into Municipal, Provincial and Federal

3. The Canadian Government
Consists of 3 Branches:
The Executive Branch – The ability to carry out laws
The Legislative Branch – The power to make laws
The Judicial Branch – The power to interpret the laws and judge those who break them

4. FEDERAL

5. The Queen Queen Elizabeth II Ascended to the throne Feb 6, 1952
Coronation on June 2, 1953
How many years will the Queen be in ruling this year?

6. Role of the Queen Canada’s official head of state
Recognized but no real power
Performs important ceremonial duties when visiting Canada
Overseas all 3 branches federally, and provincially

7. Governor General David Johnston Assumed office on Oct 1, 2010
28th Governor General since confederation

8. Role of the Governor General
The Queen’s representative in Canada, appointed by the Queen
Usually serves for 5 years
Welcomes Foreign dignitaries and visits other countries representing Canada
One of the main duties is to ensure that Canada always has a Prime Minister
Signs important documents

9. Executive Branch Has the power to administer and carry out laws
Day to day operations of the government
Consists of: The Prime Minister, Cabinet and Public Service (Civil Servants)

10. Prime Minister Stephen Harper Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister
Sworn in on Feb 6, 2006

11. Role of Prime Minister Leader of the Nation
Leader of the party with the most number of seats (which party is Stephen Harper a part of?)
Chooses a cabinet that makes up his/her team
Usually elected for a 4 year term
Has the power to call an election but must get permission from the GG first

12. The Cabinet
Made up of Members of Parliament (MP’s) that help the PM to run the government
Usually made up of members of the same party
Cabinet Ministers usually have the responsibility of running certain departments
They are helped in the day to day by the Civil Servants, that make up the Public Service

13. Ministers – Have you heard their names in the news?
Minister of Finance
Jim Flaherty,
MP Oshawa – Whitby
Minister for the Status of Women
Rona Ambrose,
MP Edmonton – Spruce Grove

14. Legislative Branch Also known as Parliament
Has the power to make and change laws
Consists of: The Senate and the House of Commons

15. House of Commons (Lower House)

16. House of Commons

17. House of Commons
Where the MP’s who are voted in by the people debate and vote on bills to become laws
Bills are proposed laws and they must be debated and approved by the House of Commons before becoming a law
PM is the leader of the House of Commons

18. House of Commons – 3 Major Activities
The speech from the Throne – Although the speech is given by the GG, it is written by the governing party’s cabinet and outlines the policies and laws they plan to bring to Parliament during the upcoming season
Question Period – lasts for 45 minutes each day and is televised in English and French to all Canadians. This allows MPs to ask questions about proposed bills, policies and government actions, and brings issues to the attention of Canadians

19. House of Commons – 3 Major Activities
Debates and Legislation – When an MP has an idea for a new law, they present it to the Legislature as a bill. Most bills are presented by Cabinet Ministers and are called “Government Orders”
When a non-Cabinet MP presents a bill, it is called a “private members bill”

20. Seats in the House of commons

21. Members of Parliament
MP’s represent each community in Canada in the Federal Government
Represent and support the ideas / policies (party platform) of their party on Federal issues
Term: Every 4 years, same as PM

22. The Opposition
The party with the 2nd largest number of elected MP’s becomes the Official Opposition
The NDP are the Official Opposition of our current government
The opposition must criticize government policies they do not agree with and provide alternatives if they are displeased

23. Leader of the Official Opposition
Thomas Muclair, replacing Jack Layton
Elected by his party

24. Opposition
All other parties who had MP’s elected into the House of Commons are part of the Opposition
Other opposition leaders include Bob Rae (Liberals), Daniel Paille (Bloc Quebecois) and Elizabeth May (The only Green Party MP elected!)

25. The Senate (Upper House)
The Senate studies, amends, and either rejects or approves bills passed in the house of commons
No bill can become a law until it is passed by the Senate
Can propose own bills but not where they are spending public money or impose taxes, which must be introduced in the HoC
One of the duties of the Senate is to represent the interests of Canada’s regions, provinces, territories and minority groups

26. Senators Approve all bills to make them into laws
Act as government advisors on specific issues and problems
Are appointed by the GG, on advice from the PM
Term: Appointed until age 75, usually from the PM’s party (hmmmm…)

27. Standings in the Senate
British Columbia 6
Alberta
Ontario 23
Quebec 24
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Nova Scotia 9
Newfoundland and Labrador
New Brunswick 10
Northwest Territories 1
Prince Edward Island 4
Yukon
Nunavut
Conservative
Liberal
IDP PC 59 41 2 1

28. Judicial Branch Decides who has broke the law and sets the penalties
Works to ensure that the government does not go above the law
Consists of: Supreme Court of Canada, Court of Appeal, Criminal Courts and Civil Courts

29. Court System
Canada has two court systems, the civil court deals with the protection of private rights where as the criminal court deal with crimes against society
If you are not happy with your verdict, you can appeal it to the Supreme Court of Canada.
It’s verdicts are final because members of this court have been selected by Parliament out of respect for years of sound service to the legal system

30. PROVINCIAL

31. Comparisons to FEDERAL
Also consists of 3 branches – Executive, legislative and Judicial

32. Executive Same functions as federal
Consists of: Premier, Cabinet and Public Service

33. Lieutenant-Governor
David Onley

34. Premier
Kathleen Wynne
Liberal Party of Canada

35. Role of the Premier Leadership role, similar to the Prime Minister
Addressed the citizens of the province and works with other Premiers and the Federal government to defend the province’s interests
Chooses cabinet members to direct specific provincial affairs

36. MPP’s Members of Provincial Parliament
Elected by citizens, party with the most MPP’s ends up as Premier of the province

37. Cabinet
Similar to Federal government

38. Civil Servants
Public servants within the Provincial government consist of police officers, health care personnel and education workers.

39. Legislative Branch Similar to Federal, except no Senate
Instead of HoC, it is called a Legislative Assembly, or Legislature
Once bills are passed by a majority in legislature, it goes directly to the lieutenant-governor for royal assent

40. Judicial Branch Same as Federal
Consists of: Provincial Supreme Court, Criminal Courts and Civil Courts

41. MUNICIPAL

42. Executive
Consists of: The Mayor, City Councillors and Council Committees

43. Mayor
Hazel McCallion
Longest running Mayor in Guinness Book of World Records

44. City Councillors Elected by citizens Term: 4 years
City Councillors do not usually state their political parties, but it is generally known once they state their platforms

45. Council Committees
City councillors are assigned to various committees to discuss policies and structures within different departments

46. Legislative
For Municipalities, it is the Town or City Council that works to pass bylaws

47. Judicial
Municipal bylaws