Unit 1: Canadian government

How do we decide on when to have an election?

1. Prime Minister advises the Governor General to
dissolve the House of Commons and calls an election

2. If the government is defeated in a vote of
non-confidence

3. The 4 year term is up!

Political thinking concepts

Political significance, Political perspective, Ethical considerations, Evidence, Stability and change, objectives and results

Political thinking concept: Evidence

What should we believe

Political thinking concept: Ethical considerations

what is the right thing to do

Political thinking concept: political perspective

why do people have different political perspectives

Political thinking concept: Political significance

What is the most important

Political thinking concept: Stability and change

When should we change things or try to keep them the same

Political thinking concept: objectives and results

Which actions will bring about the best results

Democracy

way of governing which depends on the will of the people

Monarchy

Country run by a Monarch (member of royal family, power pass down through bloodline)

Communism

country is run with no clear class system and complete government ownership (Left wing)

Political spectrum: Left

- social conditions should be changed as quickly as possible
- Society is not bound by tradition
- Government should take care of needy persons directly. It has a moral obligation
- Everyone should have equality of condition
- The rights of individuals have the highest priority
- Key industries, banks, transportation, facilities and natural resources should be owned by the government

Political spectrum: Center

- Change of social conditions should take place, but at a cautious rate
- Tradition is important, but change must be accepted if it is the will of the majority
- There are many different approaches to caring for the needy
- Everyone should have equality of opportunity and condition
- Law and order is important, but the rights of individuals come first
- Some form of government management of the economy is necessary. It won’t look after itself

Political spectrum: Right

- The present system should be maintained. Change only when absolutely necessary and do it slowly and carefully, not suddenly
- Traditions must be respected. They provide society with stability and security
- Government should not interfere in the lives of individuals. It provides a helping hand, not a handout.
Private charity and self-reliance are better.
- Everyone should have equality of opportunity
- Law and order have the highest priority
- Business and industry should be kept in the hands of private individuals.

Liberalism

Favours individual freedom but acknowledges the need for some form of government intervention in the economy

Conservatism

Advocates for the preservation of society and tradition and opposes radical changes

Socialism

Favours a political and economic system in which the ways of production distribution and exchange are owned by the community

Libertarianism

Advocates for minimal government intervention in the lives of citizens

Legislative branch

Power to make laws

Executive branch

Power to carry out laws

Judicial branch

power t find a person innocent or guilty; power to interpret the law

Legislative branch includes

Parliament, house of commons, senate

Executive branch includes

Sovereign, governor general, Prime minister, Pm office, Cabinet, Privy council office, Ministries and civil service

Judicial branch includes

Supreme court, Federal court, Tax court, Provincial courts

Federal Responsibilities

National Defence

Foreign Policy

International Trade

Aboriginal Affairs

Postal Services

Banking System

Criminal Law

Monetary System

Citizenship

Marriage & Divorce

Employment

Immigration

Provincial responsibilities

Education

Housing

Health Services (hospitals)

Natural resources & environmental issues

Charities

Licenses

Highways, Roads

Provincial Court System

Provincial Police and Prisons

Municipal Responsibilities

Public transit

Garbage collection and disposal services

Water and sewage

Snow removal

Fire protection services

Zoning land (industrial, residential)

Local police services

Collection of property taxes and fees for many
licences.

Libraries

Shared responsibilities: Federal, provincial, municipal

Public Health

Labour

Welfare

Agriculture

Justice

Taxation

The king

Currently King Charles III. Role is mostly ceremonial, Technically, he needs to approve all of our laws

Governor General

- Mary Simon.
- The Queen's representative in Canada. Appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister
- role is mostly ceremonial, signs laws on behalf of queen

Prime Minister

- Justin Trudeau (Liberal)
- The leader of the party with
the most “seats”
(representatives) in the House
of Commons
- Chooses members of Cabinet
- Controls and speaks for the
governing body
- Names senators and senior
judges for appointment

Cabinet

- Chosen by Prime Minister, but
officially appointed by Governor
General
- Most powerful MPs in parliament
- Responsible for different
government issues, referred to as
“portfolios” (Defence, Finance, etc.)
- Helps Prime Minister direct policy

House of
Commons

- Also called the “Lower House”
- Where Members of Parliament
(MPs) sit
- Elected by voters from a specific
area (riding/electoral district)
- Paul Chiang (Liberal) was
elected as the MP for the
geographic area that PETHS
is in (Markham - Unionville)

Leader of the Official
Opposition

- Pierre Poilievre (Conservative
Party of Canada)
- The leader of the party with the
second highest number of seats
- Responsible for presenting clear
alternatives to government
policies
- Important role when there is a
minority government

The Senate

- “Upper House”
- Appointed by the Governor
General on the recommendation
of the Prime Minister
- Responsible for reviewing and
making changes to new laws

The Provincial Government

CROWN Lieutenant Governor

LEGISLATURE: Legislative
Assembly

EXECUTIVE: Premier, Cabinet, Government Ministries and
Civil Servants

JUDICIARY: Supreme Court, Provincial Courts

Provincial Government: Lieutenant
Governor

- Elizabeth Dowdeswell
- The role is mostly ceremonial

Provincial Government: Premier

- Currently Doug Ford
(Progressive Conservative)

Provincial Government: Cabinet

- Most powerful MPPs in
Provincial Parliament
- Responsible for different
portfolios (Health, Education,
etc.)
- Help Premier direct policy

Provincial Government: Legislative
Assembly

Honorable Billy Pang
(Conservative) is the current
MPP (Markham-Unionville)

Provincial Government: Leader of the Official
Opposition

Peter Tabuns (NDP)

Federal election

- election must take place within 4 years
- set of 3rd monday in october of the forth year

Provincial (ontario) Election:

- election must take place within 4 years
- 1st thursday in october of 4th year

Municipal (ontario) election

- election must take place within 4 years

Why do we have elections so often?

1. Makes the goverment accountable to the people
2. Provides opportunities for the people to voice their needs and choose their goverment

Ridings

Provinces & Territories are divided into electoral districts

Advance polls

allows people to vote who might not vote otherwise (i.e. will be out of town, in hospital etc.)

majority government

- The party that wins the largest number of seats in a general election forms the government.(more than half the total seats in the House of Commons)
- can easily pass its bills into law, has support from more than half of the Members of Parliament

minority government

- governing political party only has a “minority” of MPs in the legislature
- governs much differently, because party doesn't have Majority votes
- must negotiate with opposition parties to gain their support for government legislation. (legislation-by-legislation basis)

coalition government

- no party has a majority of the seats in Parliament
- two or more parties join together to form a government
- involved parties make a long-term agreement to work and vote together

First past the post; Electoral system

- the candidate with the highest number (but not necessarily a majority) of votes is elected
- no limit to ht number of candidates who can run

How a bill becomes a law

1.
-The idea is first introduced to the House of
Commons.
-First Reading of the bill to the House of Commons

2.
- Second Reading
- Legislature has a debate about the bill
- A vote is made

3.
- Suggestions are made to improve the bill
- Bill is amended (changes are made)

4.
- Third Reading
- Final vote on the bill
- Senate examines the bill and makes any necessary
changes

5.
- The bill is sent to the governor general for approval
- Bill becomes a law

Role of media

Major players
- Present candidate in the best light
- Millions spent (travel, advertising)

Ads also cast negative images or impressions of their
opponents

Who is eligible to vote?

- 18
- Canadian Citizen
- On Voter’s List – most people
are on it when they turn 18 and
file their income tax return.

What is a vote of non-confidence?

When a proposed bill receives less than a
majority of votes in the House of Commons,
defeating the government and forcing it to
resign.