1. CANADIAN GOVERNMGOVERENT CHAPTER G3 CANADIAN LAW 2104 GOVERNMENT AND LAW MAKING

2. GOVERNMENT IN CANADA Canada is a federal state (system) a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy

3. CANADA’S FEDERAL SYSTEM Confederation Canada became a country on July 1, 1867 4 colonies of British North America (NS, NB, Canada East (Quebec) and Canada West (Ontario) joined or confederated to form Dominion of Canada Over time other provinces and territories joined

4. CANADA’S FEDERAL SYSTEM Becoming a nation was difficult Provinces were very different from each To bring them together into one nation it was decided to create a federal state or system.

5. LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT Canada’s government is divided into three levels:  federal government (national level – the whole country)  provincial government (provincial/territorial level)  municipal government (community/town/city level) Each level of government is responsible for different tasks.

6. THREE DISTINCT BRANCHES Federal and Provincial governments comprised of three distinct branches Executive Legislative Judiciary Each branch plays a role in making, interpreting, and enforcing laws in Canada

7. EXECUTIVE BRANCH This branch of government is responsible for ‘running the country’ – it implements and enforces the laws created by the legislative branch Comprised of Prime Minister, Cabinet (elected MP’s, MHA’s, appointed by PM. Eg Minister of Justice), Public or Civil service

8. EXECUTIVE BRANCH Sets Policies Proposes and Administers Laws Controls government spending

9. EXECUTIVE BRANCH

10. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH (PARLIAMENT) This branch of government is responsible for initiating, approving or rejecting laws in Canada Consists of: House of Commons (lower house) Senate (upper house) At provincial level it is same, but parliament is usually called the Legislature, or Legislative Assembly, with no Senate

11. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

12. THE JUDICIARY Part of government but independent of other two branches Made up of justices or judges who adjudicate disputes, interpret the law, and decide on punishments in the court system Justices are apolitical and independent Higher court justices (Supreme Court of Canada) are appointed by federal government Trial court justices at the lower level are appointed by provincial governments

13. THE JUDICIARY