Political Parties in Canada

1
Political Parties in Canada
Parties, the media and other influences on the
Canadian electoral system
2
Political Parties
3
What are political parties?

• People who run for election in government are
  affiliated with groups of like minded people
• The public then supports the group that believes
  the way they do

4
What role do political parties play in Canadian
government?

• MAJORITY when one party wins more than 50 of
  the seats in the House of Commons
• MINORITY when one party has more votes than any
  other party, but does not receive more than 50
  of the seats in the House of Commons

5
Majority Governments

• At the federal level, a party needs at least 155
  seats to be majority
• Majority complete control
• The agenda of the party in power is most
  important
• Most stable form of government because elections
  only occur once every four years

6
Minority Governments

• Minority balance of power
• One party that has more seats than all other
  parties, but the other parties combined have more
  power
• Party in power must work with the other major
  parties so that all agendas are treated equally
• If the other parties lose faith in the party in
  power, they can basically overthrow them

7
Elected Officials

• Once a candidate is elected, their job is to work
  with other MPs from their party to reach the
  goals of the party
• Often, each MP from a party is given one
  particular topic to advocate for
• Role changes depending on whether or not their
  party is in power

8
Smear Campaigns

• Candidates often resort to slandering or
  attacking their competition
• Political campaigns often become personal with
  candidates attempting to sabotage each other

9
Interest Groups

• Groups of people who work together for one
  central cause
• Often lobby the government for support for their
  causes
• Interest groups are aware that one party may help
  their cause more so than any other, and they will
  campaign on behalf of that party

10
The Media

• Often plays a large role in elections
• The media has the power to sway people toward or
  away from a certain party
• Is the media a positive or negative influence on
  Canadian elections?