People in Parliament And the three levels of Canadian Government

The Queen Head of state Role is mainly ceremonial therefore she does not have real power She is responsible for summoning parliament or provincial legislature to meet, appointing senators and calling elections Queen Elizabeth II of England

The Governor General David Lloyd Johnston The Queen’s representative in Canada at the federal level Performs the Queen’s responsibilities in Canada on behalf of the Queen He is responsible for summoning parliament or provincial legislatures to meet, appointing Senators, calling elections. His role is mainly ceremonial

The Prime Minister Stephen Harper Leader of a political party with the most seats in the House of Commons Most powerful person in Parliament Recommends to the Governor General the appointment of Senators, the appointment of judges to the Supreme court and determines when elections will be held

The Cabinet Members of the Parliament selected by the Prime Minister to be responsible for an area of Public Policy Minister of Defence Rob Nicholson Minister of Finance Hon. Joe Oliver

House of Commons Contains 308 (elected) Members of Parliament responsibilities include making laws, raising or lowering taxes and debating issues of public policy

Senate Made up of 105 Senators (various legislative or governing bodies) appointed by the Prime Minister Responsible for reviewing laws passed by the House of Commons and representing the regions of Canada

Backbencher An MP who is not a cabinet minister They are responsible for relaying the information back to people in their ridings/neighbourhoods (also called constituents) They get their names from where they sit in the House of Commons (in the back benches)

Shadow Cabinet Thomas Mulciar Members of the main Opposition party responsible for holding Ministers to account and for developing and disseminating the party's policy positions This person will shadow or mark each individual member of the government

Official Opposition Official opposition: usually the largest parliamentary opposition party in the House of Commons or a provincial legislative assembly Not in government, either on its own or as part of a governing union This is usually the second-largest party in a legislative house Keeps the government in check

Members of Parliament (MPs) They each represent a single electoral district, or riding They represent voters in the House of Commons J. Fantino P. Kent J. McCallum

The Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR is the representative of Her Majesty The Queen in Ontario. IN HIS CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE, the Lieutenant Governor swears in the Executive Council, opens each session of Parliament and outlines the Government’s plans in the Speech from the Throne, provides the Royal Assent (permission) needed for bills to become law, approves Orders-in-Council and appointments recommended by Cabinet, and prorogues or dissolves each session of Parliament.

The Premier Head of government of a province or territory Not the head of state Head of Provincial Legislative and the head of the executive Hold seats in the Legislative Assembly Elected one of the electoral constituencies of the province They represent the provincial interests on the federal level of government Kathleen Wynne Premier of Ontario

Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) M. Chan G. Martow F. Klees M. Kwinter One member of the provincial parliament (MPP) is elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in each provincial riding in Ontario MPPs represent the views of their constituents in the legislative assembly, and take part in committees and debates on provincial legislation

Majority vs. Minority Majority vote More than half the votes Prime Minister can make legislative decisions Majority of seats in the House of Commons Minority vote Less than half of the votes They need support from the opposition to make legislative decisions Persuading other parties to vote with them

Municipal Governments These consist of two categories: Upper Tier (regions and districts, such as York Region) Lower Tier (cities and towns, such as Markham and Richmond Hill)

Municipal Responsibilities… water sewage, waste collection public transit land use planning libraries emergency services Police (e.g. YRP, Toronto Police) animal control economic development.

Links NDP: Liberal: Conservative:

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