The Canadian Government

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The Canadian Government

• Canadian History 11

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Political Regions
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Federal, Provincial Territorial Flags

• Left to right, top row National Flag of Canada,
  Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New
  Brunswick, 
• Middle row Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest
  Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario
• Bottom Row  Prince Edward Island, Quebec,
  Saskatchewan, Yukon, Flag of Canada

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What is a Government?

• The word government means to exercise power in a
  group. Every group needs people to make and
  enforce decisions that control the conduct of the
  group.
• A governments basic task is to make a set of
  laws to allow people in a society to live
  together in peace and security.

• There are 3 functions of government
• Legislative function is the making of laws or the
  passing of legislation.
• Executive function is putting the laws into
  effect on a daily basis.
• Judicial function is to decide if an individual
  has broken societys laws and to punish the
  guilty.

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Video Clip

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vyGfYOmz_FSE

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Canadas government has been described as the
following

• Democracy is a system of government in which
  the people rule or have the power. In Canada, we
  elect others to represent us in governing the
  country.

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Canadas government has been described as the
following

• Monarchy The monarch is the source of all
  authority. Queen Elizabeth II is the Queen of
  Canada. She is represented by the Governor
  General Governor General.

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Canadas government has been described as the
following

• Parliamentary system Canadas parliament
  consists of the Queen represented by the Governor
  General, the Senate, whose members are appointed
  and by the House of Commons, made up of
  representatives elected by the Canadian voters.

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Canadas government has been described as the
following

• Cabinet The cabinet minsters carry out the
  executive functions of the government. Cabinet
  ministers must be elected to the House of Commons
  or have seats in the Senate. In order to stay in
  office they must have the support of the majority
  of the members of the House of Commons.

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Canadas government has been described as the
following

• Federal Government The government has a system
  in which the power to make laws is shared between
  two levels of government a national or central
  government and provincial governments. Canada is
  a federation of provinces and territories or has
  a federal government because both levels of
  government have the power to make laws

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The Federal System
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• The Executive
• The Sovereign
• The Governor General
• Parliament
• The Prime Minister
• The Legislature The Cabinet
  Judiciary
• The Senate House of Commons
  Supreme Court of Canada
• Agriculture Fisheries Revenue Canada
• Communications Native Affairs Public Works
• Consumer Corporate Northern
  Development Regional Industrial
• Affairs Justice Expansion
• Employment Immigration Labour Secretary of
  State
• Energy, Mines Resources National
  Defence Solicitor General
• Environment National Health Supply Service
• External Affairs Welfare Transport

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Governor General

• Appointed Official
• Represents the Queen, but follows the advice of
  the cabinet
• 5 years

• Entertains important foreign visitors
• Honours distinguished Canadians
• Cuts ribbons at ceremonies
• Lends support to causes events
• Serves as a reminder of the past
• Resides at Rideau Hall in Ottawa
• Gives Royal Assent to Bills

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Current Governor General

• David Johnston is the 28th Governor General of
  Canada.

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Prime Minister

• Leader of the majority party in the House of
  Commons
• Elected by the people
• Office has no fixed term
• Follows the wishes of the majority of the House
  of Commons
• Leads the party caucus in parliament.
• Caucus a private meeting of the elected members
  of a political party

• Acts as the voice of the nation
• Directs foreign policy
• Serves as the leader of the governing party and
  with the aid of a House leader guides
  debates/discussions in the House

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Prime Minister

• Chooses the Ministers for his/her Cabinet
• Can ask anyone to resign from the Cabinet
• Cabinet decisions do not necessarily go by the
  majority vote. A strong PM, after having
  listened to everyones opinions advice, simply
  announces that his or her view is the policy of
  the government

• The PM lives at 24 Sussex Drive, a house
  maintained by the government

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Current Prime Minister

• Prime Minister of Canada is the Conservative
  Party's Stephen Harper

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The Cabinet

• PM Cabinet is made up of app. 30 ministers
• Chosen by the PM from the majority party in the
  House of Commons
• The Cabinet PM decide on policies the
  Government will follow.
• It is responsible for all legislation has the
  power to make new laws

• It decides whether
• to raise or lower taxes
• The country will be at peace or war
• To improve airports
• To increase old-age pensions

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The Cabinet

• Each province must be represented by at least one
  Minister.
• Each minister is responsible for a Government
  Department
• Each minister also has a Deputy Minister who is
  a permanent head of the department.

• These officers are civil servants who are
  employed by the Government.
• Each Minister is responsible, answerable
  accountable for his/her department to the House
  of Commons.

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The Cabinet

• The Cabinet works as a team.
• Every Cabinet Minister must agree and defend all
  policies decided whether they totally agree with
  them or not.
• If they cannot agree will not support the
  Cabinet, they may resign or be asked to resign by
  the PM
• This team playing is referred to as the
  collective responsibility of the Cabinet

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Cabinet Ministers

• The Leader of the Government in the Senate
• The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
• The Minister of Canadian Heritage
• The Minister of Citizenship Immigration
• The Minister of Environment
• The Minister of Finance Minister for the
  Federal Office of Regional Development Quebec
• The Minister of Fisheries Oceans
• The Minister of Foreign Affairs
• The Minister of Health
• The Minister of National Revenue
• The Minister of Transport
• The President of the Queens Privy Council for
  Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
  Ministers responsible for Public Service Renewal

• The Minister of Human Resource Development
  Western Economic Diversification
• The Minister of native Affairs Northern
  Development
• The Minister of Industry
• The Minister of International Trade
• The Minister of Justice Attorney General of
  Canada
• The Minister of National Defence Veterans
  Affairs
• The Minister of Public Works Government
  Services of the Atlantic Opportunities
• The President of the Treasury Board Minister
  for Infrastructure
• The Solicitor General Leader of the Government
  in the House of Commons

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Parliament

• The Queen is the formal head of Canada.
• The Governor General represent her at the Federal
  level
• The Lieutenant-Governors represent her at the
  Provincial level
• They govern through a Cabinet, headed by the PM
  (federal level) a Premier (Provincial Level)

• Parliament consists of
• The Queen
• The Senate (Upper House)
• House of Commons (Lower House)

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The Senate

• The Upper House
• Made up of 105 men women
• Its presiding officer, the Speaker of the Senate,
  and the Senators are appointed by the Governor
  General on the recommendation of the PM
• Usually given as a reward for service to the
  country

• Senators must retire at 75 yrs old or if they
  miss 2 consecutive sessions of Parliament
• They must be at least 30 yrs old have real
  estate worth 4000.00
• They must reside in the province/territory for
  which they are appointed

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The Senate

• The Senate is made up of members who have
  specialized knowledge and long years of legal,
  business or administrative experience.
• They are often ex-Ministers, ex-Premiers,
  ex-mayors, important lawyers experienced farmers

• The can initiate bills, except bills providing
  for the spending of public money or imposing
  taxes.
• It has the right to amend or reject any bill
• No bill can become law unless passed by the Senate

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The Senate 2010
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The House of Commons

• Parliament sits about 27 weeks of the year.
• A regular sitting day always includes routine
  business, committee reports are presented,
  documents are recorded, Ministers make
  statements, petitions are presented bills are
  introduced
• The Question Period is when Ministers must
  defend the activities of their departments the
  policies of the Government

• Lower House
• 308 Seats
• Elected by the people
• 5 year term
• Each Member represents a constituency (district)
  of a province or territory.
• They do not have to live in the constituency

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The House of Commons 2010
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The House of Commons
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• 1. Speaker2. Pages3. Government Members4.
  Opposition Members5. Prime Minister6. Leader
  of the Official Opposition7. Leader of the
  Second Largest Party in Opposition8. Clerk and
  Table Officers9. Mace10. Hansard Reporters11.
  Sergeant-at-Arms12. The Bar

• 13. Interpreters14. Press Gallery15. Public
  Gallery16. Official Gallery17. Leader of the
  Oppositions Gallery18. Members Gallery19.
  Members Gallery20. Members Gallery21.
  Speakers Gallery22. Senate Gallery23. T.V.
  Cameras

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National Political Parties

• Stephen Harper

• Michael Ignatieff

• Jack Layton

• Gilles Duceppe

http//www.youtube.com/watch?v4hfGy_b87gIfeature
related (Rick Mercer on Elections)
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Political Spectrum
Left Wing Centre Right Wing
Larger role for government, smaller role for individuals More spending on social welfare programs Less spending on the military Government Ownership of key industries resources Emphasis on individual rights More lenient justice system, with emphasis on rehabilitating offenders Shared role for government and individuals Maintain existing spending on social welfare programs Maintain existing spending on military Economy a mix of public and private enterprise Mix between individual rights and social order Balance between protecting societys rights and rehabilitating offenders Larger role for individuals, smaller role for government Less spending on social welfare programs More spending on the military Economy left to the private sector, with little government interference Strict adherence to social order Stricter justice system, with harsher punishment for offenders
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Opposition Party

• Political parties sitting in the OPPOSITION serve
  as watchdogs of government. It is their job to
  criticize and challenge governmental policies,
  laws and decisions, in order to have the best
  possible outcomes throughout the political
  process.
• Current Opposition Party is the Liberal Party
• Leader of the Opposition Party is Michael
  Ignatieff

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Speaker of the House

• There are 2 Speakers in the Houses of Parliament
• Speaker of the Senate is appointed
• Speaker of the House of Commons is elected by the
  Members of Parliament in a secret ballot in the
  Commons Chambers after a new election.

• Must be a member of the House of Commons.
• If the speaker is English then the Deputy Speaker
  must be French and vice-versa

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Speaker of the House

• Each sitting of the House of Commons is preceded
  by a Speakers Parade
• Each day begins in the House of Commons with the
  Speaker saying a prayer before being seated in an
  ornately carved armchair.
• Members must bow to the Speaker when they enter,
  leave or cross the Chamber.

• They make sure everyone is following
  parliamentary procedure.
• If there is a tie vote in the House, the Speaker
  may cast the deciding vote.

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Speaker of the House

• The current Speaker of the House of Commons is
  the Honourable Peter Milliken.

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Sergeant-at-Arms

• Usually a former senior of the Canadian Forces
• In the old days, they served as a body guard for
  the Speaker of the House.
• They work for the Speaker of the House and
  carries out 2 duties
• To perform whenever there are ceremonial
  activities
• They are responsible for the security of the
  House of Commons the Parliament Buildings.

• Guardian of the Mace

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Sergeant-at-Arms

• The current Sergeant-at-Arms is Ms. Jill Pay.

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The Mace

• The Mace is a symbol of authority held by the
  Speaker of the House and plays an important role
  in the Opening of Parliament.
• It represents ancient authority of the Crown
• It is carried by the Sergeant-at- Arms during the
  Speakers Parade.
• Without the Mace the House of Commons cannot hold
  its proceedings.
• The Mace was originally a weapon of the Middle
  Ages. It was used by the Sergeant-at-Arms, who
  was the kings body guard.

• It was first used in Canada in 1792. During the
  War of 1812, American soldiers invaded and
  captured York (Toronto) and stole the mace.
• It was not returned until 1934, by Franklin D.
  Roosevelt.

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The Usher of the Black Rod

• Created in England during the reign of Henry
  VIII.
• In Canadian Parliament, they call the House of
  Commons to the Senate for the Speech from the
  Throne or Royal Assent to Legislation.
• The Usher knocks of the doors of the House of
  Commons 3 times and when he is admitted he
  requests on behalf of the sovereign the
  immediate attendance of the Honourable Members in
  the Chamber of the Honourable Senate

• The tradition of the knock came from the reign of
  Charles I, who stormed the House of Commons
  during the British Civil War.
• This was the last time a monarch had entered the
  House of Commons in the British Commonwealth.
• Other duties include
• Leader of the Speakers Parade
• Responsible for Senate security.

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A Parliamentary Page

• Each year 40 students are selected from various
  high schools across Canada to work as Pages in
  the House of Commons.
• They work as messengers part-time
• You can apply to be a Page as long as you
• Are a Canadian citizen and can prove it.
• Are graduating from a secondary school and will
  be attending university full-time in September.
• Have an overall academic average of 80
• Speak both languages at a superior level
• Have been accepted to one of the universities in
  Ottawa or Hull.

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Members of Parliament

• An MP is a federal representative who represents
  people that live in a voting area called a
  constituency. The people that live in a
  constituency are called constituents.
• MPs are from all over Canada and form a group
  called the House of Commons.
• They meet at Parliament to discuss the countrys
  business and things that affect the people.
• They report to their constituents through
  meetings, phone calls, letters, newsletters and
  websites.

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How is Law Made?

• 1st reading introduces the bill
• 2nd reading members debate the general
  principles of the bill, the ideas and convictions
  on which it is based. They then examine the
  details of the bill, which is done in the
  Committee of the Whole House. The bill might
  then go to a smaller committee, Standing
  Committee, where experts are called in to give
  their views. Amendments may also be made.
• 3rd reading After this, it goes to the Senate
  and once the Senate approves it, it goes to the
  Governor General for assent.
• Once it is signed, it becomes law is called an
  Act.

• Laws are made by Parliament.
• A law or statute begins as a bill.
• MPs can introduce a bill in the House of Commons
  or the Senate.
• Each bill must have three readings.

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Ceremony Video Clip

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vmdSVRYC04YUNR1

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Elections http//www.youtube.com/watch?vJvcz5M3QV
tk

• Held every 5 years
• People vote for the leader they want
• Elections are held at the national level,
  provincial level and local level
• The PM calls for the election or if there is a
  vote of non-confidence, which means that the
  government is defeated in the House of Commons
  because the members no longer feel the government
  is working well.
• Election Canada is an agency run by Parliament
  that organizes all federal elections
• Enumerators make a list of all the people in
  Canada that can vote. You must be 18 years of
  age.

• The voters elect representatives to the House of
  Commons.
• Canada is organized into app.300 electoral
  districts, also called ridings, seats or
  constituencies.
• In each riding, the different political parties
  choose candidates to run for election.
• The candidate that wins takes a seat in the House
  of Commons.
• The party that wins the most seats forms the
  government.
• The leader of the winning party becomes the Prime
  Minister.

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Parliament Buildings

• Queen Victoria declared Ottawa to be the Capital
  of Canada in 1858 and Barracks Hill was chosen
  for the government buildings.

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Parliament Hill 1866
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Parliament or Center Block
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House of Commons
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Senate
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Confederation Hall
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The Great Hall of Honour
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Peace Tower 53 Bells honours Canadian
soldiers who died during WWI
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Memorial Chamber
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Library of Parliament
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Changing of the Guards
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Rick Mercer Video
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v3vqyfY7cZPk