2. Canada is a…… ……. democratic parliamentary federal constitutional monarchy…..or something like that?
Division of Powers
Federal
National Defense, Immigration, Foreign Policy, First Nations, et al…
Provincial
Education, Healthcare, Driver’s License, Property, et al…..
Municipal
Parks & Recreation, Police, Infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc…), …
Branches of Government
Executive
Queen
Governor- General
Prime Minister
Cabinet (Ministers)
Legislative
House of Commons
Senate
Judiciary
Supreme Court of Canada
Federal Courts
Provincial Courts

3. Federal Level Provincial Level
Federal-Provincial Differences
the Executive Branch
Federal Level
Provincial Level
Branch: Executive
Branch: Executive
Governor General
(representing the Monarch;
head of state - the Queen)
Lieutenant Governor
(representing the Monarch
at the Provincial level)
Prime Minister (head of government)
Cabinet
Premier (head of government)

4. Federal Level Provincial Level
Federal-Provincial Differences
the Legislative Branch
Federal Level
Provincial Level
Branch: Legislative
Branch: Legislative
Parliament
(House of Commons and Senate)
Provincial Legislature
Senate (Appointed Senators)
NO SENATE EQUIVALENT AT PROVINCIAL LEVEL
House of Commons (Elected MP’s)
Legislative Assembly (Elected MLA’s)
Government
(Party with the largest number of seats
in the House of Commons)
(Party with the largest number of seats in the Legislative Assembly)
Official Opposition (Party with the second largest number of seats)
Voters

5. the Executive Branch
the Monarchy
Head of State – Queen Elizabeth II
Symbolism?
Ceremony?
Democratic tradition?
Powers are limited by a constitution, as well as ‘custom and convention’
the Governor General
represents the Crown in Canada (6 yr term)
appointed by the Queen on advice from the Prime Minister
Duties:
Speech from the Throne (Written by Prime Minister’s Office)
Dissolves Parliament (on advice from PM), which starts the election process
following elections, formally requests that the majority party form government
Royal Assent given to legislation passed in Parliament – this is how laws are made!
receives foreign dignitaries, ensures continuity of governance in Canada, other stuff…..
the Prime Minister
Head of Government
the power of appointment……Cabinet, the Senate, the judiciary, crown corporations, et al…..
5 yr term limits, unless PM/majority party loses confidence of the legislature (H of C)
PM has not limitation on term limits served…….W. L. M. King served 22 years as Canadian PM!
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is a powerful body within government……
the Cabinet ‘Cabinet Solidarity?’
where real political power rests in Canadian government
Ministers head government ministries – i.e. Department of National Defense, Fisheries, et al……

6. the Legislative Branch
House of Commons
Elected – 338 seats – Member of Parliament (MP)
Speaker of the House
moderator of debate….discipline?
elected by MPs at beginning of Parliament
announces vote results
‘party discipline’
caucus meetings
party solidarity – a problem vis-à-vis ‘direct democracy?’
Question Period
Opposition parties hold government to account…..
‘shadow ministers’
Senate
Appointed by PM with appreciation for regions of Canada – 105 seats
‘patronage’
Qualifications?
Purpose? – counter-balance regional powers od Quebec & Ontario
- act as an agency of ‘sober second thought’ to H of C

7. 42nd Canadian Parliament – House of Commons Seating by Political Party
Liberal – 182 (Red)
Conservative – 97 (Blue)
NDP – 41 (Orange)
Bloc Quebecois – 10 (Aqua)
Green Party – 1 (Green)
People’s Party – 1 (Dark Blue)
Cooperative Commonwealth – 1
Independent – 2 (Gray)
Empty seats - 3 (white)

8. Bill Originates in Cabinet
the Passage of Legislation......how ‘bills’ become laws (or ‘Acts,’ as they are called in Canada….)
Bill Originates in Cabinet
Introduced into House of Commons
First Reading
Second Reading
Committee Stage
Third Reading
Back
To the Senate - Three Readings
Royal Assent

9. BC Legislature
May 9, 2017 Election Results – ‘Historic Parliament’
Liberal Party – 43 Seats
New Democratic Party – 41 Seats
Green Party – 3 Seats
Who will govern BC?
Which political party will have the confidence of the House?
Role of Governor General (Lt. Gov Judith Guichon)
Christy Clark attempted to govern, as was her right – ‘custom and convention’
She would seek the confidence of the House….knowing full well she didn’t have it….
Liberals lose ‘confidence’ vote, Clark seeks ‘dissolution’ of parliament
Horgan has support of Green caucus – though not a ‘coalition’
Lt. Gov refused Clark’s request of ‘dissolution’
Lt. Gov requested Horgan meet her and asked if he had ‘confidence’ of the House
NDP Minority Gov’t
Clark would resign later that summer (eventually replaced by Andrew Wilkinson)
Speaker of the House – Daryl Plecas, a Liberal MLA
Plecas was kicked out of caucus for this…..critical of Clark’s style
1st non-majority government in BC since 1952
End of majority Lib. gov’t in power since 2001
1st election fed/prov election w/ more than one Green
Minority Parliament
87 seats requires 44 seats to be won for majority