Transcript Slide 1

Government
What is Government?
• The people and institutions put in place to run or
govern a country, state, province or community.
• The role of government is to make decisions and
regulations (laws) for the people for whom it is
responsible.
Canada’s Government
• Canada is a federal state, parliamentary democracy and
constitutional monarchy.
• A federal state brings together a number of different communities
with a central government (federal) for general purposes and
separate local governments (provincial/territorial) for local
purposes.
• As a parliamentary democracy, we elect members to our
parliament and legislatures. The political party with the most
representatives gains control of the legislature or parliament.
• As a constitutional monarchy, Canada’s head of state is a
hereditary sovereign (Queen or King), who reigns in accordance
with the Constitution.
Three Levels of Government
• Canada is a very large country with many different needs and
interests.
• In order to support its citizens most effectively, government is
structured into three levels: federal, provincial and
municipal.
• Each level has its own arrangement of elected and appointed
officials, as well as a unique set of responsibilities.
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/Territorial
• The elected representative at the provincial level is called a
Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Member of
Provincial Parliament (MPP - Ontario), Member of the House
of Assembly (MHA – Newfoundland and Labrador), or
Member of the National Assembly (MNA - Quebec),
depending on where you live in Canada.
• Elected representatives debate and pass laws at the
legislative assembly.
• The leader of the government is called the premier.
• The Queen is represented by the lieutenant governor at the
provincial level.
Municipal/Local
• The elected representative at the municipal level is called a
councillor or alderman.
• The leader of the government is called a mayor, reeve or
warden.
• The size of the council differs from city to town.
• Councillors debate and pass legislation in the council
chambers (city hall/municipal office).
Section 91-95, Constitution
• In choosing a federal form of government, the Fathers of
Confederation assigned responsibilities to the different levels
of government (Sections 91–95, Constitution Act).
• The division of powers is based on the principle of
subsidiarity, in which the government closest to the issue
governs it.
• Municipal governments receive their powers from the
provinces.
Division of Responsibilities
• Federal: National defence, trade, foreign policy, finance,
health and safety, immigration and citizenship.
• Provincial/Territorial: Health care, education, welfare,
transportation, justice, energy and the environment.
• Municipal: Waste management, water and sewer, policing
and protection, cultural facilities and libraries.
Discussion Questions
• How does government affect your life?
• Why is it important to know who is your elected
representative?