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Unit 2 The Election process. Election is called Called by the Governor General at the request of the Prime Minister 1. The Government’s term is up (5.

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Presentation on theme: "Unit 2 The Election process. Election is called Called by the Governor General at the request of the Prime Minister 1. The Government’s term is up (5."— Presentation transcript:

1 Unit 2 The Election process

2 Election is called Called by the Governor General at the request of the Prime Minister 1. The Government’s term is up (5 years) 1. It is a good time strategically for the Government to call an election 1. The Government has lost an important vote in the House of Commons 1. They may call an election if the P.M. has retired and the government has chosen a new leader

3 Who Can Vote Today, all Canadian citizens 18 yr or older ( as of 1987) The federal vote - historically All property owning males of British ancestry (1867) Removal of property owing qualification (1885) Some women 1917, extended to all women in 1918 – clip 1 Chinese and Indo-Canadians(1947) Japanese(1948) –clip 3 Native Canadians (1960) on reserves - clip 4 Right to vote embedded in the Constitution 1982 Prisoners (serving less than 2 yrs), mentally disabled (1993) All prisoners (2002) See timeline in textbook – page 82 Lowing voting age

4 First Past the Post In each riding (electoral district) the candidate with the most votes wins a seat in the House of Commons, and represents that electoral district (its constituents) as its member of Parliament. Any number of candidates may run for election in an electoral district either independently or under the banner of a registered political party. A candidate can run in only one riding Each party may endorse only one candidate in an electoral district.

5 Canada’s Registered Political Parties Political parties registered under the – 39th general election Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada Bloc Québécois Canadian Action Party Christian Heritage Party of Canada Communist Party of Canada Conservative Party of Canada First Peoples National Party of Canada Green Party of Canada Liberal Party of Canada Libertarian Party of Canada Marijuana Party Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada New Democratic Party Progressive Canadian Party Western Block Party Elections Canada Political Party definition an organization whose fundamental purposes is to participate in public affairs by endorsing one or more of its members as candidates and supporting their election to the House of Commons. 2006

6 Running for Election Parties nominate a candidate to run in each riding First-Past-The-Post video clip Each Candidate must: 100 signatures $1000 deposit. ½ returned after expenses submitted 2nd ½ returned if they win15% of the vote remaining money goes to the state

7 Running in an Election Continued If you can vote, you can run in an election unless: You’re a judge You’re a crown attorney You’re in prison You’re an election officer – conflict of interest You’re an elected member of a provincial or territorial legislature You have been convicted of election offences

8 The Election Campaign Minimum 36 days long Use to be much longer due to travel time. Now modern travel and telecommunications allow for a shorter campaign period A Public Show involving Parties present the face of their leaders Candidates involved in speeches, campaign promises, handshakes, bus touring, photo opportunities, news conferences, debates, rallies, and political advertising

9 The Election Campaign

10 Cost of a Campaign Election cost – $300 million Only the following may contribute $ to political parties: Citizens or permanent residents of Canada Businesses or associations in Canada Unions in Canada Discussion - Why?

11 Cost of Campaign continued Why donate? Save on taxes if you contribute Not just wealthy should contribute Parties must appeal to wide cross section of population Over $100 contributions must be made public Party spending limits based on number of voters in a riding If you win 15% of vote or more – get half expenses back from government If you win 5% of vote - get 22% of expenses reimbursed

12 Campaign Strategy Local strategies in a particular riding: Door to door, signs, appear at clubs, schools, events Sometimes has more to do with personality than party

13 Campaign Strategy continued National or Provincial strategy Focuses on leader and party policy Leader’s tour is scrutinized by press and public TV particularly important (trace to 1968 – Trudeaumania) Trudeau slideshow

14 Campaign Issues Cannot be vague – e.g. reduce poverty Voters want specifics – e.g. increase spending on subsidized housing and increase minimum wage Some elections dominated by single issues: 1917 – conscription 1988 – free trade with U.S.

15 Debates Minimum 2 televised debates between party leaders – one French, one English 1960 Kennedy-Nixon debate Kennedy younger, prepared, good make up Nixon sick, only light make-up, beard started to show, sweaty and nervous Those who listened on radio said Nixon won, those who watched it on TV said Kennedy won TV debates now very prepared – practice phrases, potential answers to questions, dress rehearsals

16 Advertising All parties pay for advertising on TV and radio Negative ads show deficiencies in opponents Positive ads show wisdom of party’s own policies Third party ads are run by businesses, interest groups or individuals who endorse certain candidates or parties

17 Election Time - Voting

18 Election Day Election Fraud One day, in secret Still cases of stealing ballots, bribery and phony names on list 1998 Quebec election TV reporter put camera in button hole voted 6 times as friends of hers on the list never asked for identification Chief electoral officer didn’t want to intimidate people, prevent them from voting What could be done to reduce the chances of election fraud????

19 Election continued Counting Ballots not counted until all polling stations in a riding are closed Results phoned in to riding’s chief returning officer First past the post system Candidates with most votes in a riding wins (takes all) Few candidates ever have more than 50% of vote System can be very unfair – consider the following tables

20 1993 Election Results Political PartiesShare of Vote % Seats Liberals41.22177 Reform18.7152 Conservatives16.042 Bloc Quebecois13.5154 New Democrats6.889 System can be unfair. Consider the following tables

21 1998 Quebec Election Results PartyShare of Vote %Seats Liberals43.5548 Parti Quebecois42.8775 PQ won very close races in many ridings (2000 votes) and Liberals won big majorities in some ridings (20 000 votes) PQ won very close races in many ridings (2000 votes) and Liberals won big majorities in some ridings (20 000 votes)

22 Results of Last Federal Election (Jan. 23, 2006) Political PartiesPopular VoteSeats WonStatus Conservative Party of Canada 36.2%125Minority Government Liberal Party of Canada 30.2%103Official Opposition Bloc Quebecois10.5%51Minor Party New Democratic Party 17.5%29Minor Party Green Party of Canada 4.5%-- Independent0.1%1

23 Proportional Representation  Proportional Representation - another system where 2% of vote = 2% of seats  can be less stable  forces consensus  government must make concessions to smaller parties to maintain support  Some examples of proportional representation democracies: Israel, New Zealand, Germany

24 Forming a Government Majority Governments – Government has more than half the seats in the legislature – House of Commons now has 308 seats – need 155 to form – Most governments of Canada are majority – Can pass whatever legislation was promised in election

25 Minority Governments Only 9 federal elections have resulted in minority gov’ts Opposition can act together to defeat gov’t on any vote Sometimes governments reach informal understanding with opposition parties to assure their support on key votes – Liberal minorities in 1960s had support of NDP and passed CPP, GIS, Medicare, and Petro-Canada, among others – Ontario 1985 opposition parties formed an informal coalition government after defeating the minority gov’t in power Explaining minority / majority governments clip

26 Coalition Governments  Rarest of the 3 types  Only once federally – 1917 to pass Conscription  Saskatchewan 1999 election: – Liberals - 4 seats – NDP - 29 seats – Saskatchewan Party - 25 seats. – NDP were one seat short of a majority, so in exchange for the Liberal’s support, they gave the Liberals 2 cabinet positions, and were now a majority (33 vs. 25)

27 Recall The right to pull a politician out of office if the voters feel they have not fulfilled their duty Only BC has recalled in Canada (1995) – Only after 18 months in office – 60 days to collect signatures from 40% of riding – by-election is called TVO bi-election clipTVO bi-election clip – MLA may run in the by-election Has been initiated 11 times, never enough signatures One MLA resigned before process complete

28 Referendums National Referendums 1898 – Prohibition – 51% in favour, 49% against, was not passed federally only in 1915. PEI had it until 1948  Some issues need to be dealt with outside of elections

29 Referendums continued 1942 – Conscription – PM King had promised none, but WW2 was heating up. More than 60% in favour, but Quebec 70% against. Enforced in 1944 but only for home defense.

30 Referendums continued 1992 – Constitution – tried to get Quebec to sign on to the Constitution: The Charlottetown Accord. –Needed yes nationally and in every province. –Only ON, NF, NB and PEI voted yes –Federal no vote 54%

31 Provincial Referendums Newfoundland 1948 –to join Confederation –52% voted yes CBC archives clip

32 Provincial Referendum continued The Quebec Question –separation/sovereignty 1980 – question vague, 60% not to separate 1995 – better question 50.58% no, 49.42% yes –Video clipVideo clip

33 Election Results Predictions


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