Governance in Canada Notes

Governance in Canada

Key Definitions

• Government: The body with power to make decisions for a society.
• Govern: To make decisions as a government and put decisions into action.
• Governance: The process of governing.

Political Systems in Canada

• Canada has two main political systems:
  1. Parliamentary Democracy
  2. Constitutional Monarchy

Canada's Democracy

• A form of government where all eligible citizens participate equally, either directly or through elected representatives, in the proposal, development, and creation of laws.
• Canada has one of the oldest functioning democracies in the world.

Constitutional Monarchy

• A form of government in which a monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution.
• The British monarch, King Charles III, is recognized as Canada’s Head of State.
• However, the British monarch does not play an active role in Canada’s government.

Canada's Constitution

• Canada’s supreme (highest) set of laws.
• Sets forth the fundamental laws and principles that describe governance in Canada.
• It describes which powers may be exercised by each level and branch of government.
• It lays out the powers and authorities of the Governor General, Senate, and House of Commons.
• The constitution also includes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Levels of Government

• Federal
• Provincial
• Municipal
• Indigenous Self-Governments

Branches of Canada's Federal Government

1. Executive
2. Legislative
3. Judicial

Political Parties

• A political party is a group of people who have similar ideas about how government should respond to issues facing society.
• Each party develops policies based on the shared values of its members, to respond to issues; this is called a platform.
• They put forward candidates in elections and seek to form the government.
• The major political parties in Canada:
  • Act like a team.
  • Offer a way for citizens to take part in the political process by joining or agreeing with a political party.
  • Members of a political party agree on their place on the political spectrum.

The Political Spectrum

• Left:
  • Government intervention in the economy
  • Income equality
  • Higher taxes to pay for social programs
  • Government spending on social programs
  • Regulations on business
  • Supports universal healthcare
  • Prefer to ban economic activity that may create jobs but could potentially harm the environment
• Right:
  • Free market economy - minimal government intervention in the economy
  • Income inequality (based on worth)
  • Lower taxes
  • Reduced government spending (self-reliance)
  • Fewer regulations on business
  • Opposes government provided universal healthcare
  • Considers impact of environmental regulations. Believes the free market will find its own solutions
• The Canadian Political Spectrum:
  • Left: More Government Control (Communism, Socialism)
  • Right: Less Government Control (Capitalism)

Elections

• C.I.V.I.X. explains the electoral system

Ridings/Constituencies

• A riding, or constituency, is a geographical area represented by a member of the House of Commons.
• Each riding has a “seat” in the House of Commons - literally, a place where its Member of Parliament sits.
• There are 338 federal ridings in Canada, and therefore, 338 seats in the House of Commons.

Representation by Population

• Representation in the House of Commons is by population.
• The number of seats in the House of Commons each province receives is based on the province’s population or electorate.
• The electorate is all the people in a country or area who are entitled to vote in an election.

Elections - First Past the Post

• Major political parties put forth one candidate in each riding.
• Voters, also referred to constituents or the electorate, vote for one candidate.
• The candidate with the most votes in each riding becomes a Member of Parliament (MP), and has won a seat in the House of Commons representing a specific party of Canada. (MP= Seat)
• After the election, the party with the most seats won in the House of Commons becomes the governing party of Canada.
• The other parties form the official opposition.

Majority and Minority Governments

• A majority government results when a political party wins a majority (greater than 50%) of the total seats in the House of Commons.
• A minority government results when a political party wins the most seats in the House of Commons, but not the majority of seats.
  • A minority government makes passing laws more difficult

Official Opposition

• The role of the opposition is to challenge the government and create debate in order to keep them in check.
• By questioning their decisions and challenging their proposals, they make sure the government isn’t abusing its power.

Popular Vote

• Popular vote refers to the percentage of all votes won by each political party during an election, regardless of how many ridings were won.

Proportional Representation

• Proportional representation is an electoral system in which the percentage of seats a party has in the legislature reflects the percentage of people who voted for that party.
  • Ex: If a party gets 40% of the vote, they should get 40% of the seats.
• Proportional representation ensures that majority governments have an actual majority of the voters behind them.

Branches of Government

Executive Branch

• Includes the Prime Minister (PM) and the Cabinet.
• Roles:
  • Proposes most laws
  • Puts laws into action
  • Runs the day-to-day business of government
• The Crown: Head of State represented in Canada by the Governor General
• The Prime Minister:
  • The Prime Minister is the head of Canada’s government.
  • To become PM you must:
    1. Be elected as the leader of a political party.
    2. Be elected as a Member of Parliament (MP).
    3. Have the party you lead win the most seats in the House of Commons.
• The Cabinet:
  • Includes the people with responsibility for different government departments - called portfolios (i.e. health, finance, environment).
  • The members of cabinet are called Cabinet Ministers.
  • Cabinet Ministers belong to the leading political party in the House of Commons and are Members of Parliament (MPs).
  • The Prime Minister decides what portfolios to include in the cabinet and chooses Cabinet Ministers.
  • The Cabinet proposes most of the ideas that become laws.
  • The PM and the Cabinet run the day-to-day business of the government.

Legislative Branch

• Includes the:
  • House of Commons
  • Senate
  • Governor General
• Roles:
  • Make laws (debate, question, and vote on proposed laws).
  • Represent constituents from each riding.
  • Represent the interests and rights of Canada’s regions and minority groups.
• Canada’s Parliament:
  • Parliament is Canada’s Legislature, the federal institution with the power to make laws, to raise taxes, and to authorize government spending.
  • The Parliament of Canada is “bicameral,” meaning it has two chambers.
• The House of Commons:
  • Also known as the Lower House or the Parliament
  • 338 seats
  • Members are called “Members of Parliament” or MPs
  • MPs are elected by constituents in their ridings.
  • The major law-making body in Canada’s federal political system.
  • MPs debate, study, and vote on laws proposed for Canada, called bills.
• Accountability of MPs
  1. Members of Parliament represent the interests and rights of their constituents.
  2. They are also accountable to their political party.
• The Senate:
  • The members of Canada’s Senate are called Senators. There are 105 Senators.
  • Senators are not elected. They are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the PM.
  • The Senate gives “sober second thought” - a careful second round of study, debate, and voting to all proposed legislation for Canada.
  • Also known as the Upper Chamber
• Role of Senators:
  • Senators represent the interests and rights of Canada’s:
    1. Regions - Western provinces, Ontario, Quebec, the Maritimes, Newfoundland, and the Territories
    2. Minorities (i.e. Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, and women)
  • Senators are not traditional politicians and the majority do not belong to a political party.
  • The Senate can propose laws (except those that create or spend taxes), but usually only considers bills passed first by the House of Commons.
  • The Senate has the power to reject bills from the House of Commons but rarely uses this power.
• Critiques of the Senate
  • Many Canadians believe that the Senate should be either reformed or abolished.
  • Common criticisms of the Senate include:
    • Senators are appointed, not elected. They can have their job until they are 75.
    • Senators receive a significant salary and entitlements, paid for by taxes. This is expensive!
    • The Senate slows down the law-making process.
    • Corruption and the Senate Expenses Scandal has undermined public trust in the Senate.
• Senate Reform
  • Those who call for Senate reform advocate for the “Triple E Senate.”
    • Elected
    • Equal
    • Effective
• Role of the King
  • The King does not have official power in Canada.
  • The role of the monarchy is primarily traditional and represents Canada’s past ties to Britain.
  • The King still participates in traditional aspects of Canada such as:
    • Appointing a Governor General
    • Royal tours of Canada
• The Governor General
  • The King is represented in Canada by the Governor General.
  • They are recommended to the King by the Prime Minister, and then appointed by the King.
  • This person carries out the King’s constitutional and ceremonial duties in Canada.
    • This includes providing Royal Assent, or the final approval before a law is passed in Canada.
  • Represents the King within Canada, as well as in foreign nations.

How a Bill Becomes a Law

• A bill becomes law only after passing through a series of five steps in the House of Commons and the Senate, and is given Royal Assent by the Governor General.
• The usual, basic path of law-making in Canada is:
  • House of Commons --> Senate --> Royal Assent
• Bill-to-Law Process
  • First Reading:
    • Printed copies of the bill are made available for the first time. There is no debate or vote.
  • Second Reading:
    • Debate and vote on the principle of the bill. Does the bill serve the interests of Canadians?
  • Committee Stage:
    • Detailed study of the bill. A committee of MPs or Senators reviews the bill with the help of witnesses, including experts and citizens. The committee issues a report with a recommendation that the House or Senate usually accepts.
  • Report Stage:
    • Debate and vote on amendments (changes) to the bill.
  • Third Reading:
    • Debate and vote on the final form of the bill.

Lobbying

• Lobbying: The process by which individuals or groups articulate their interests to government officials to influence public policy.
• Lobbyists and Lobby Groups
  • Lobbyists are hired by an individual or group to influence government legislation, decisions, and actions on their behalf.
  • Lobbyists meet directly with MPs and government officials to try to convince them to pass laws that serve the needs and interests of those that hired them.
  • Lobbyists can work independently or in a group, called a lobby group.
• Examples of Lobbyists
  • The entertainment industry has lobbyists who work to influence laws about downloading music, movies, and TV shows
  • Lobbying by groups such as the Non-Smokers’ Rights Association has resulted in tougher controls on smoking, including government warnings on cigarette packages and bans on smoking in public places.
• Lobbying is regulated by the Lobbying Act and the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct.
• Lobbyists must register with a Commissioner of Lobbyists so everyone in Canada can know who they are and who they represent.
• Pros and Cons of Lobby Groups
  • Pros:
    • Represent different perspectives outside of the government’s
    • Highlight issues that are important to Canadians
    • Is a regulated practice that is monitored.
  • Cons:
    • Lobbyists may be seen, by some people, to:
      • Slow down the law-making process rather than helping laws get passed
      • Be corrupt and self-serving, acting in their own interests
      • Manipulate politicians and the law-making process

Judicial Branch

• Includes:
  • Canada’s courts of law. All members of the judicial branch come from the legal profession.
• Roles:
  • Interprets and applies all law in Canada by making legal judgements.
  • Ensures the rights of Canadians are respected.
  • Is separate from the executive and legislative branches and acts as a check on their powers.
• Supreme Court of Canada
  • The highest court in Canada
  • Has the final word on all legal decisions in the country, including questions about the rules for making and applying laws.
  • The Supreme Court has 9 judges from four regions in Canada (Quebec, Ontario, Western Canada and the Maritimes)
• How are Supreme Court Judges Picked?
  • First, suitable candidates are reviewed by an independent advisory board.
  • The advisory board provides a short list of names to the Prime Minister for consideration.
  • The Prime Minister makes the final decision and appoints a judge to the Supreme Court when a position becomes available.
• Role of the Supreme Court:
  1. It hears appeals from decisions of lower courts. Supreme Court judgments are final and set a precedent.
  2. It decides important questions about the Constitution and controversial or complicated areas of law. The government can also ask the Supreme Court for its opinion on important legal questions.
• Canadian Court System
  • Federal vs. Provincial Courts
    • The Federal courts specialize in areas such as intellectual property (copyright and patent law), immigration law, maritime law, federal–provincial disputes, tax law, and civil cases related to terrorism.
    • The Provincial courts try most criminal offenses, money matters, family matters, and traffic cases.
      • Provincial courts may also include specialized courts, such as youth courts, family courts, and small claims courts. Each provincial government appoints the judges for its own courts.

Government and the Media

• How does the media connect Canadians to their government?
  • Inform, share information, and represent the people
• What is the Media?
  • The media includes newspapers, magazines, film, radio, TV, the Internet, books, and billboards.
  • It delivers information and messages quickly to very large audiences.
• Media Bias
  • Bias: an opinion based on unchallenged assumptions.
    • Bias is a type of thinking rooted in a person’s point of view.
  • The media doesn’t just report the news. It influences our personal understandings of the world and how it works.
  • All media messages are created by people who interpret the facts and makes choices about how to tell or “spin” the story.
  • Media bias creates unbalanced information in the news.
• Politicians and the Media
  • Politicians develop key messages for the media to control how the media present them, and to communicate what they want Canadians to know.
  • Usually these are memorable quotes or phrases, called slogans.
    • A slogan is a phrase repeatedly used by politicians or marketers to present an idea.
• When presented with news it’s important to…
  • Think critically and ask questions
  • Check other news sources before continuing to believe what you’ve seen or read
  • Fact check
  • Think how your own personal views impact whether or not you believe the news you’ve been presented with (bias/unbiased)
  • Consider the intended audience of this news source and who they are targeting
  • Three main roles of MEDIA are:
    • Inform, share information, and represent the people

Vocabulary

• Federal government: The national government.
• Quality of Life: A measure of personal and collective well-being.
• Government: The body with power to make decisions for a society.
• Constitution: The law that describes governance in Canada.
• Govern: To make decisions as a government and put decisions into action.
• Executive Branch: The branch of government responsible for proposing most laws, putting laws into action, and running the day-to-day business of the government.
• Prime Minister: The head of the government.
• Appointed: To be chosen or designated to a certain position.
• Cabinet Minister: A person with responsibility for a government portfolio.
• Constitution: The document that describes governance in Canada and how the three branches work together.
• Laws: Rules for a society, created and defined by a political process.
• Riding: A geographical area represented by a Member of Parliament.
• Constituent: Someone who lives in a riding and is represented by an elected official from that riding.
• Member of Parliament: A person elected by the constituents of a riding to represent their interests in the House of Commons.
• House of Commons: The major law-making body in Canada; the lower house of Canada’s Parliament where elected MPs debate and vote on laws.