1. Chapter 6
What is Government

2. Canada’s Three Levels of Government
Federal Government (All of Canada)
provincial or territorial government(for a province or territory)
municipal or local government

3. Federalism
At confederation in 1867 Canada’s constitution created two levels of government, federal and provincial.
This system of government is called FEDERALISM.
The territories were created through later acts. (NWT 1870, Yukon 1898 and Nunavut 1999)

4. Municipalities
Local or municipal governments were created by the provinces and territories to govern local communities.
These include cities, towns, villages and rural municipalities.

5. Responsibilities
Each level of government has different responsibilities.
Only the federal and provincial governments have their responsibilities outlined in the Constitution Act of 1867.

6. Responsibilities of the Federal Government
The federal government makes decisions related to matter of national importance including:
foreign trade and relations
aboriginal peoples
defence
postal service
immigration
communications
unemployment
Criminal Law
Currency (money)

7. Responsibilities of Provinces and Territories
The responsibilities of the provinces and territories are not identical but they make all decisions relating to:
property and civil rights
marriage licences
alcohol consumption
natural resources and environment
hospitals, health and welfare
education
drivers education and licensing
provincial or territorial highways

8. Responsibility of Local Governments
Local government are responsible for services that affect the daily lives of people such as:
police and fire departments
streets and roads
water and sewage
transit
garbage and recycling
libraries
recreation
local programs

9. Revenue Federal Revenue
collects income tax in the form of GST (good and service taxes) and taxes on certain domestic and foreign goods.
A portion of its revenue is transferred directly to individuals (pensions, family allowance, ei etc) and a portion is transferred to the province and territories. (health care, post secondary education and other programs.

10. Revenue continued... Provincial and Territorial Revenue
Collect income tax in the form of PST, and hidden “sin”taxes on alcohol and tobacco products.
Local Revenue
Receive grants from the provincial government and raise revenue through property tax, parking and various licences.

11. Branches of Government in Canada
In Canada, government powers are separated into branches.
3 branch structure.
By separating government powers into branches, each would be checked and balanced.

12. 3 Branches
Executive- carry out the business of government.
Legislative- make laws.
Judicial- to interpret and enforce laws.

14. Parliament 1,2,3

15. Branches of Government continued...
Executive
Make and implement decisions.
Carry out policies and run government departments.
Key People
Queen-represented by the governor general(federal), lieutenant governor(provincial) or commissioner (territorial).
Prime minister (federal) or premier (provincial).
Cabinet ministers and civil servants.

16. Branches of Government continued...
Legislative
Introduce, debate, and pass laws
Key People
Elected representatives.
Appointed senators (federal level only).

17. Branches of Government continued…
Judicial
Interpret and enforce laws.
Key People
Judges and courts

18. Executive Branch The Governor General:
Canada is a constitutional monarchy. The British Monarch became the official head of state. Today Queen Elizabeth II is the monarch of Canada.
Canada’s constitution limits the monarch’s power. The monarch is represented in Canada by the Governor General.

19. Governor General continued...
Today the Prime Minister recommends the candidate for Governor General to the monarch. He or she is the figurehead in name alone.
Governor General:
- Signs bills into law (known as royal assent)
- Officially welcomes foreign governments to Canada
- Reads the speech from the Throne
- Promotes pride in and awareness of Canada.
- Symbolic position which reflects traditions of our past.

20. Lieutenant Governor
In each of the 10 provinces the Lieutenant Governor represents the monarch.
Provincial duties include:
- Signing bills into law.
- Reading the Speech from the Throne.
- Promoting the province.

21. The Prime Minister And Cabinet
The prime minister is the most powerful political leader in Canada.
He or she is leader of the political party with the most elected representatives or members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons.
The prime minister chooses a group of advisors known as the Cabinet.
The prime minister and the cabinet hold the real power of the federal executive branch.

22. Prime Minister and Cabinet continued...
The prime minister chooses cabinet ministers from his or her party.
Must reflect diversity and have gender equality.
Include members, who look after portfolios (ie Finance, Justice, Health and Defence)
example:
the Minister of Justice might propose changes to the criminal law related to marijuana.

23. Backbenchers Non cabinet MPs that sit behind the cabinet.
Represent the interests of their constituents.
Have major influence on policy and must follow the principle of cabinet solidarity (publicly support all cabinet decisions or resign).

24. The Premier and Cabinet
The premier leads the executive branch of the provincial government.
The federal principles of majority support, cabinet selection, and cabinet solidarity apply provincially as well.

25. The Legislative Branch
Lawmaking branch of government, elected by the voting public.
If the executive branch loses the support of the elected legislature, it must resign.

26. The House of Commons
The House of Commons in Ottawa is our federal legislative body.
Made up of members of Parliament elected in 338 separate ridings or constituencies(geographical areas).
MPs represent the interests of the constituents (voters and nonvoters) in his or her riding.
Most constituencies have around 100,000 voters.
The Political party with the largest number of MPs becomes the government of Canada.

28. Bills(Laws)
Ideas for bills are usually introduced by Cabinet Ministers.
To pass a bill the government needs the support of “one-half plus one” of the total number of MPs.(1/2x338+1=170)
If a government loses an important vote in the House of Commons, it loses confidence of the House and will probably have to resign. After a government is defeated the Governor General may call for a new election or invite the Official Opposition(Party with the next largest number of seats) to form a government.

29. Minority Government
If the government had more MPs than any other party but less than 170 (old majority, new majority ) they form a Minority Government.
Example:
2008 election: Conservative (143), Liberal (77), Bloc Québécois (49), NDP (37), Independent (2)

30. The Speaker of the House
The Speaker of the House is elected by secret ballot by all the MPs. He or she is expected to be non-partisan (not biased toward any particular political group).
Acts as a referee between the MPs and enforce the rules of a parliamentary debate.
Ritually dragged to the seat because at one time it was considered a very dangerous position. (9 speakers of British Parliament were executed after their reports to the Monarch)

31. Question Period
45 minute period where opposition members can question the prime minister and cabinet.
The opposition usually tries to embarrass the government with questions on almost any issue.
Must address the MPs through the speaker referring to one another “the Honourable member from (name of riding).”
If they use “unparliamentary language” they may be forced to apologize.

32. The Senate
The Senate is the Upper House of the legislative branch of the federal government.
At one time is was thought that only upper class people could be elected to the senate because common people could not be trusted to run government. Their main purpose was to “veto”(block) “irresponsible” Bills.
Still considered the chamber of “sober second thought”, however rarely vetoes legislation.
105 senators.

33. Senate Scandal
The Canadian Senate expenses scandal is an ongoing political scandal concerning the expense claims of certain Canadian senators which began in late Senators Mike Duffy, Mac Harb,Pamela Wallin, and Patrick Brazeau claimed travel and housing expenses from the Senate for which they were not eligible.

34. Should the Senate be Abolished
Write a 3 point paragraph about whether or not the senate should be abolished.
Intro Statement (state your opinion clearly)
3 Supporting Points
Paragraph A- point and explanation.
Paragraph B- point and explanation.
Paragraph C- point and explanation.
Conclusion

35. Legislative Assembly
The legislative branches of Canada’s 10 provinces are almost mirror images of the House of Commons.
Elected representatives are known as Members of the Legislative Assembly(MLAs).
In Quebec they are known as Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and in Ontario they are known as Members of the Provincial Parliament.

36. Territorial Legislative Assembly
Each Territory has a commissioner (similar to lieutenant governor), a premier and a legislative assembly (similar to provincial legislature).
Territories have less power than the provinces.

37. Local Government Councils
Head of the government in a town or city is called the mayor.
The mayor leads the government of councillors who are elected by their geographic area.
Individual citizens can have the most impact on government at this level. Therefor reform (change) should occur here first.
Band councils are similar to local government in the way they operate. (Indian Act)

38. Judicial Branch
Deals with law courts and the administration of justice.
Canada’s courts can also be called upon to interpret laws.
Provincial and Territorial Courts
Enforce laws in civil and criminal issues. Each province and territory has a court of appeal.
Supreme Court
Highest court in the land, and the court of last appeal.
Examples?? same sex marriage, abortion, shopping on Sun.