Canada GOVERNMENT

Governments in Canada  Canada is a 1)federal state, 2)parliamentary democracy and 3)constitutional monarchy.  A federal state brings 4)together a number of different 5)political communities with a 6)central government (federal) for 7)national matters and separate local governments (provincial/territorial) for 8)local affairs.  As a parliamentary democracy, they 9)elect members to parliament and 10)legislatures across the country.  As a constitutional monarchy, Canada’s 11) head of state is a 12)hereditary sovereign (queen or king), who reigns in accordance with the 13)Constitution.

Three Levels of Government  Canada is a very 14) large country with different needs and 15) interests.  In order to meet the needs of 16) citizens, the Canadian government is structured into a 17)three-level system: federal, provincial/territorial and municipal/local.  Each 18)level has its own 19)arrangement of elected and 20)appointed officials as well as a unique set of 21)responsibilities.

Three Branches of Government- Legislative  This Branch creates 22) laws, rules and 23) regulations under federal 24) jurisdiction.  The legislative branch is made up of 25) federal elected representatives called 26) Members of Parliament.

Three Branches of Government- Executive  This branch is responsible for government 27) operations, and implementing and 28) enforcing laws and regulations  It Includes:  29) Queen’s representative (the governor general)  30) Cabinet ministers (appointed by the prime minister).

Three Branches of Government- Judicial  This branch 31) Interprets the law and determines the 32) penalty for those who violate established laws, rules and 33) regulations.  This includes the 34) Canadian court system  The courts are 35) headed by the Supreme Court and 36) nine appointed judges.

Mind Map  Your Topic is Government  Make sure to fill in all 6 bubbles  Use 4 or less words per bubble

Federal  The elected 37)representative at the federal level is called a Member of 38)Parliament (MP).  Canadians will elect 39)338 MPs in the current election.  This is the 40)federal legislative body, which creates or 41)enacts laws.

Federal  MPs 42)debate and pass laws in the House of Commons in 43)Ottawa.  The leader of the government is called the 44)prime minister.  The Queen is represented by the 45)governor general.

Mind Map  Your Topic is Federal  Make sure to fill in all 6 bubbles  Use 4 or less words per bubble

Provincial/Territorial  The elected representatives are called:  Members of the 46)Legislative Assembly (MLAs)  Members of 47)Provincial Parliament (MPPs)  Members of the National 48)Assembly (MNAs)  Members of the 49)House of Assembly (MHAs)

Provincial/Territorial  Elected representatives 50)debate and pass laws at the 51)provincial or territorial legislature.  The 52)leader of the government is called the 53)premier.  The 54)Queen is represented by a 55)lieutenant governor in Canada’s ten provinces  56)Territorial commissioner represents the Queen in the 57)three territories.

Mind Map  Your Topic is Provincial/Territorial  Make sure to fill in all 6 bubbles  Use 4 or less words per bubble

Municipal/Local  The 58) elected representative at the 59) municipal level is called a councilor or 60) alderman.  The 61) head of the council is called a 62) mayor.  The 63) size and structure of the council 64) differs depending on the 65) population it represents.

Canadian Constitution  When they chose a federal form of government, the Canadian 66)Fathers of Confederation assigned particular 67)responsibilities to the federal and provincial 68)governments  This division of 69)powers is based on the idea of 70)subsidiarity, meaning that the government level 71)closest to the issue 72)governs it.  73)Municipal/local governments receive 74)powers from their province or 75)territory.

Division of Responsibilities  Federal: Justice, 76)citizenship and immigration, national 77)defense, currency, public safety, fisheries and 78)oceans  Provincial/Territorial: 79)Education, healthcare delivery, environment, 80)energy  Municipal/Local: Road 81)maintenance, water and sewer service, 82)recreation and community facilities, libraries, 83)police protection services