Who’s Who in Who’s Who in Government?Government?

http://www.youtube.com/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi1yhp-_x7A&NR=1watch?v=yi1yhp-_x7A&NR=1

The QueenThe Queen•Canada is a constitutional Monarchy•Monarch of England is Canada’s Head of State•In reality holds no power in Canada•Currently the Queen for 13 other countries.•Travels throughout Canada, but rarely stops in Quebec

Canada’s Shrinking Connection?Canada’s Shrinking Connection?

Prince William?Prince William?

Prince Harry?Prince Harry?

Governor GeneralGovernor General

•In Theory: chosen by the Queen, upon recommendation of the PM•In reality, chosen by the PM and Queen accepts•Can be traced to Samuel de Champlain•Before 1952 all GGs were British Men•Very important ceremonial role in Canada

What do they do?!What do they do?!Welcome ambassadorsPresents Honours/Awards

Order of CanadaEncourages pride in CanadaSigns bills into lawSwears in PM, Cabinet, and Chief JusticeReads throne speechMeets with PM to ensure Canada has a PM, and generally does what they want

Order of CanadaOrder of Canada

Ensure Canada has a PM?Ensure Canada has a PM?

The Grinch who Prorogued The Grinch who Prorogued ParliamentParliament

Every MP on the Hill liked Voting a lot…

But the Grinch, who lived just north of the Hill, did NOT!

The Grinch hated Voting! The whole Voting season!Now, please don’t ask why. No one quite knows the reason.It could be his head wasn’t screwed on just right.It could be his new sweater vest was too tight.But I think that the most likely reason of all, may have been that his caucus was twelve seats too small.

The Grinch who Prorogued The Grinch who Prorogued ParliamentParliament

But, whatever the reason, his caucus or vest,He stood on Voting eve, thumping his chest.Staring down from his cave with a sour, Grinchy frown,At the warm lighted windows below in the town.For he knew every MP on the Hill beneathWas busy now, preparing a victory wreath.

“And they’ve finished their plot!” he snarled with a sneer,“Next Monday’s the vote! It’s practically here!”Then he growled, with his Grinch fingers nervously drumming,“I MUST find some way to stop Monday from coming!”

The Grinch who Prorogued The Grinch who Prorogued ParliamentParliament

For, next week he knew all MP girls and boys would wake bright and early.They’d rush for the hill!And then! Oh, the noise!Oh, the Noise! Noise! Noise! Noise!That’s one thing he hated!The NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! NOISE!

The Grinch who Prorogued The Grinch who Prorogued ParliamentParliament

And THEN they’d do something he liked least of all!Each MP on the Hill, the tall and the small,Would stand close together, Peace Tower bells ringing.They’d stand hand-in-hand.And end his power clinging!

They’d vote! And they’d vote!And they’d VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!And the more the Grinch thought of this confidence measure,The more the Grinch thought, “This, I must try to censure!”“Why, for three-years I’ve put up with it now!”“I must stop Monday from coming!… But HOW?”

The Grinch who Prorogued The Grinch who Prorogued ParliamentParliament

Then he got an idea! An awful idea!THE GRINCH GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA!

"I know just what to do!" The Grinch laughed full of gall.And he strolled through the snow over to Rideau Hall.And he chuckled, and clucked, "What a great Grinch trick!""I’ll prorogue this House, and I’ll prorogue it quick!"

The Grinch who Prorogued The Grinch who Prorogued ParliamentParliament

"All I need is a reason..." The Grinch looked around.But, since reasons are scarce, there was none to be found.Did that stop the old Grinch...? No! The Grinch simply said,"If I can't find a reason, I'll create one instead!"So he ran some commercials, like a good politician,And blamed the whole thing on that darn coalition...

Another Exception?Another Exception?King-Byng CrisisKing-Byng Crisis

•1925 Election: King (Liberal) won fewer seats than Meighen (Conservative) but King refused to resign because he believed he would have the support of the Progressives giving him a majority•1926: King begins to lose support of Progressives, because of a corruption scandal•King approaches Governor General Byng to dissolve parliament and have a new election•King resigns and Byng asks Meighen and Conservatives to take over•Meighen loses a vote and we have an election•King accuses Byng of acting unconstitutionally (untrue) and wins the election

Lieutenant-GovernorLieutenant-Governor

•Essentially the same role as Governor General, only provincially•Chosen by PM, appointed by Governor General•Often very controversial in Quebec

•Federalist?

Prime MinisterPrime Minister

Most powerful person in Canadian governmentLeader of the biggest party in the House of CommonsAccountable for every government decisionChooses cabinetMinisters must agree with PM in publicAppoints many jobs

AmbassadorsSenatorsGovernor General

People used to think he People used to think he was scarywas scary

A little help from his A little help from his friends?friends?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxJm6wod-eg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FGIQpdtS_Y&feature=related

Famous PM’sFamous PM’sSir John A Macdonald Canada’s first PM, driving force

behind Confederation and CPR

Sir Wilfrid Laurier Opened the west to immigrationFought conscription in WW1Very bad university-Big loser from St. Peter went thereWho is it?

Sir Robert Borden Led Canada in WW1, pushed for Canada to sign peace treaty on its own

William Lyon Mackenzie King Led Canada in WW2, Seniors pension plan, EI

John Diefenbaker Initiated Canadian Bill of Rights-much of it became Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Lester B. Pearson Responsible for Canada’s modern flag, national Medicare

Famous PM’sFamous PM’s

Pierre Trudeau Great effort to make Canada a bilingual place, patriated Canadian Constitution, Charter of Rights

Brian Mulroney Free Trade Agreement with USAGSTAcid Rain Treaty

Who am I?Who am I?

Who Am I?Who Am I?

Local GovernmentLocal Government

“all politics is local•We usually care the most about what effects us every day

•Water•Transportation•Sport costs

•Hierarchy of needs•Cities and towns are run by municipal government•Responsible for things such as police, fire, ambulance, parks, street cleaning, libraries, zoning by laws•Mayor is elected directly by voters•Councillors represent smaller wards•Mayor is head of municipal government

OttawaOttawa

Public ServantsPublic Servants•Me!•Probably many of your parents•Work directly for the government, but not accountable for final decision•Police, Lab technicians, lawyers, bus drivers, etc.

SenatorsSenators

SenatorsSenators•House of sober second thought; appointed by the PM

•John A-didn’t trust voters•Also he was drunk most of the time

•Sit in Upper House of Parliament

•Actually the same level•Consider legislation from House of Commons

•Almost always they approve it•Can suggest small changes

•Forced to retire at 75

SenatorsSenators

•Some people question the need for a Senate

•Reasons in favour1.Appointed for life: no conflict of interest2.Represent regions of Canada better

SenatorsSenators

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV8zEjgZ8VE

http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/prime_ministers/clips/13051/

Senate MapSenate Map

House of CommonsHouse of Commons

The PremierThe Premier

•Each of Canada’s 10 provinces and territories has its own government•The head of the Provincial government is called the Premier•Very similar job to PM, only deals with provincial issues: Health Care, Education

Prominent PremiersProminent PremiersMaurice Duplessis-Quebec -Authoritarian like rule of the

province-Immense patronage-Fought Conscription in WW2-Forerunner to PQ

Rene Levesque •Father of Quebec’s separatist movement•Founded Parti Quebecois in 1968•Fought with Pierre Trudeau all the time

Tommy Douglas •Leader of first socialist government to be elected in North America

Ralph Klein •Major personality•Brought Alberta out of debt by downsizing and privitaziation of services.

Ralph KleinRalph Klein

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnk0cBsjy7o&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frsUbZ1bJ8A

Tommy DouglasTommy Douglas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2oUInTUlAM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf1YAznsnVA&feature=related

Members of ParliamentMembers of Parliament

•Are elected to the House of Commons (Lower House)•Expected to represent views of their riding

•Ottawa-Orleans•Act as our link to government•Currently 308 seats in the House of Commons•Usually begin as a “back-bencher”

Cabinet?Cabinet?

How do I get there?How do I get there? Original responsibilities remain

the same, but now run a department

No laws saying what departments have to exist

Minister must take responsibility for whatever goes wrong in their portfolio Bernier

Opposition creates “Shadow Cabinets”

Speaker of the House is elected by MPs

When MP’s speak in the House, they direct their comments toward the Speaker