PowerPoint 1: Government in the Northwest Territories

What is government? Government is made up of the people and institutions put in place to run or govern a country, state, province, territory or community. The role of government is to make decisions and enforce laws for the people it is responsible for. The purpose of government is to provide services, protect, and represent its citizens.

Levels of Government Canada is a very large country with different needs and interests. In order to meet the needs of citizens, the Canadian government is structured into a three-level system: federal, provincial/territorial and municipal/local. Each level has its own arrangement of elected and appointed officials as well as a unique set of responsibilities.

Federal The elected representative at the federal level is called a Member of Parliament (MP). Canadians elected 338 MPs in the recent election. This is the federal legislative body, which creates or enacts laws. MPs debate and pass laws in the House of Commons in Ottawa. The leader of the government is called the prime minister. Since the Canadian government is a constitutional monarchy, the Queen has a representative -- the governor general.

Territorial On November 23 rd, citizens will elect 19 representatives for the NWT government. The elected representatives are called Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the NWT. MLAs meet regularly at the Legislative Assembly to debate and pass laws. The leader of the government is called the premier. The territorial commissioner represents the federal government in the Northwest Territories.

Municipal/Local In the NWT, the elected representative at the municipal level is called a councillor. The head of the council is called a mayor. The size and structure of the council differs depending on the population it represents.

Aboriginal Government Aboriginal governments replace, overlap, or share certain responsibilities with the government of their territory or the federal government. The term that describes an Aboriginal community gaining greater control over its own affairs is known as self-government.

Consensus Government Among the provinces and territories in Canada, the NWT and Nunavut are the only two that operate by consensus. There are no political parties. MLAs are elected as independent representatives who discuss and pass laws at the legislature as equals. After the election, the MLAs meet and decide, by secret ballot, who will be Premier, who will be Speaker and who will become part of the executive council. Members of the executive council are known as cabinet ministers.

Territorial Governance Unlike provinces, who were assigned particular responsibilities through Sections 91–95, Constitution Act, territories have no inherent jurisdiction. This means that the government of Canada must give the territory its responsibilities through devolution. The most recent devolution of powers for the NWT took place in 2014, which gave the NWT certain control over subterranean natural resource development, such as oil, gas and mines.

Division of Responsibilities Federal: Justice, citizenship and immigration, national defence, currency, public safety, fisheries and oceans Territorial: Education, healthcare delivery, small business, public works, social services, public lands and resources Municipal/Local: Roads and sidewalks, water and sewer service, recreation and community facilities, libraries, emergency services

Final Thoughts Is government important? Why or why not? How does government affect your life? Why is it important to know who your elected representative is?