🏛️Politics

Politics

Three key facts

Canada is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy.

Three parts of Parliament

The Sovereign, the Senate and the House of Commons.

Three branches

The Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial.

Head of state vs head of government

The Sovereign is the head of state; the Prime Minister is the head of government and actually directs the governing of the country.

The Governor General

Represents the Sovereign in Canada, appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister, usually for five years. Grants royal assent.

Lieutenant Governors and Commissioners

A Lieutenant Governor represents the Sovereign in each of the ten provinces; in the three territories a Commissioner represents the federal government in a ceremonial role.

Senators

Appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, and serve until age 75.

Federal responsibilities

Defence, foreign policy, interprovincial trade and communications, currency, navigation, criminal law and citizenship.

Provincial responsibilities

Municipal government, education, health, natural resources, property and civil rights, and highways.

Shared responsibilities

Agriculture and immigration.

Municipal responsibilities

Urban planning, streets and roads, sanitation, snow removal, firefighting, emergency services, recreation and public transit. Councils pass by-laws.

How a bill becomes law

First Reading → Second Reading → Committee Stage → Report Stage → Third Reading → Senate → Royal Assent.

Elections

Held on the third Monday in October every four years. Canada has 308 electoral districts, also called ridings or constituencies; each elects one MP.

Who may vote

A Canadian citizen, at least 18 on voting day, and on the voters' list. Lists come from the National Register of Electors, kept by Elections Canada.

Majority and minority

A majority government holds at least half the seats; a minority government holds less than half.

Confidence

A vote on a major issue such as the budget is a matter of confidence. A government that loses one is defeated and must resign — usually triggering an election.

The Cabinet

The Prime Minister and the Cabinet ministers. They prepare the budget and propose most new laws; ministers run the federal departments.

The Opposition

The opposition party with the most seats is the Official Opposition. Their role is to peacefully oppose or try to improve government proposals.

Provincial legislatures

Members are MLAs, MNAs, MPPs or MHAs, depending on the province. The Premier mirrors the Prime Minister.

The courts

The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court; the Federal Court handles federal government matters. Provinces have an appeal court and a trial court.

Police

Ontario and Quebec have provincial police forces; the RCMP enforces federal laws and serves as the provincial police everywhere else.

Peace, Order, and Good Government

The key phrase from the British North America Act of 1867, now the Constitution Act, 1867.