Lesson 3: Government in Canada

Government in Canada• Canada is a federal state, parliamentary democracy and

constitutional monarchy. • A federal state brings together a number of different

political communities with a general government (federal) for general purposes and separate local governments (provincial) for the local purposes.

• In Canada’s parliamentary democracy, the people elect members to the federal parliament and to the provincial and territorial legislatures.

• As a constitutional monarchy, Canada’s Head of State is a hereditary Sovereign (Queen or King), who reigns in accordance with the Constitution.

Three branches of Government

• Legislative: The legislative bodies consist of elected representatives. They are responsible for making and debating laws.

• Executive: Comprised of the Cabinet (appointed elected representatives) and the bureaucracy of the government that carry out the government business and legislation.

• Judicial: Comprised of the various courts of Canada. They decide who broke the law and the corresponding punishment.

Federal • The elected representative at the federal level is

called a Member of Parliament (MP)• The federal legislative body has 308 elected MPs • MPs debate and pass laws in the House of Commons

in Ottawa (Parliament Hill)• The leader of the government is called the Prime

Minister• The Queen is represented by the Governor General

Provincial• The elected representative at the provincial level is

called a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)• The legislative body in Alberta has 87 elected MLAs • In Alberta, MLAs debate and pass laws in the

Legislative Assembly in Edmonton• The leader of the government is called the Premier• The Queen is represented by the Lieutenant

Governor

Municipal• The elected representative at the municipal level is

called a councillor or alderman• The size of the council differs from city to town• Councillors debate and pass legislation in the council

chambers (city hall/municipal office)• The leader of the government is called a mayor or

reeve

Section 91-95, Constitution• In choosing a federal form of government, the

Fathers of Confederation assigned particular responsibilities to the different levels of government (Sections 91–95, Constitution Act).

• The division of powers is based on the principle of subsidiarity (the government closest to the issue governs it).

Division of Responsibilities

• Federal: Defence, trade, foreign policy, money, health and safety, immigration and citizenship

• Provincial: Health care/hospitals, education, welfare, transportation within the province, justice and the cities within its borders, energy and the environment

• Municipal: Waste management, water and sewer, policing and protection, cultural facilities and libraries

Government Ministries• High schools have departments and each in charge of

one specific subject area (e.g., Science Department, Math Department, History Department)

• Similarly, in the Alberta government, there are departments called ministries (Ministry of Health and Wellness, Ministry of Education) and each is in charge of one of the government’s responsibilities

• The premier appoints several an MLA to head each Ministry of the Executive Council (Cabinet).

• Each minister is in charge of one of the provincial responsibilities and acts as an advisor to the premier and the Legislature in their area of expertise.

A Selection of Alberta Government Ministries

Advanced Education and Technology, Agriculture and Rural Development, Culture and Community Services, Education, Energy, Environment and Water, Finance, Health and Wellness, Human Services, Infrastructure, Intergovernmental, International and Aboriginal Relations, Justice and Attorney General, Municipal Affairs, Seniors, Service Alberta, Solicitor General and Public Security, Sustainable Resource Development, Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Transportation, Treasury Board & Enterprise