How We Govern

Three key facts about Canada’s government

Canada’s system of government rests on three ideas. It is a federal state, so power is divided between a national government and the provinces. It is a parliamentary democracy, so the people elect representatives who make laws. It is a constitutional monarchy, so a hereditary Sovereign is Head of State.

Canadians share a commitment to the rule of law and to the institutions of parliamentary government. Canada is the only constitutional monarchy in North America.

Key points

• Three key facts: Canada is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy.
• Canadians are bound together by a shared commitment to the rule of law and to the institutions of parliamentary government.
• Canada is the only constitutional monarchy in North America; it has inherited the oldest continuous constitutional tradition in the world.
• Canada’s institutions uphold “Peace, Order, and Good Government”, a key phrase in the British North America Act of 1867, Canada’s original constitutional document.

Practice questions: What are the three key facts about Canada’s system of government? · How does Discover Canada describe Canada’s system of government? · How does Canada’s system of government differ from those of the other countries of North America? · Which key phrase from the British North America Act describes a commitment Canada’s institutions uphold?

Federal state: who does what

Canada has federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments. The British North America Act of 1867, now called the Constitution Act, 1867, divided powers between the federal government and the provinces.

The federal government deals with matters of national and international concern. The provinces are responsible for matters such as education, health and highways. Federalism lets each province shape policies for its own people and try out new ideas.

Key points

• Canada has federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments.
• Federal and provincial powers were defined in 1867 in the British North America Act, now the Constitution Act, 1867.
• 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.
• The federal government and the provinces share jurisdiction over agriculture and immigration. The table of government responsibilities also lists the environment as shared.
• Health care is a provincial and territorial responsibility; the Canada Health Act ensures common elements and a basic standard of coverage.
• Federalism lets provinces tailor policies to their own populations and experiment with new ideas.

Practice questions: Which of the following is a provincial government responsibility? · Which two areas do the federal and provincial governments share responsibility for? · Which law first defined the responsibilities of the federal and provincial governments? · What are the three levels of government in Canada?

Parliamentary democracy

Canadians elect members to the House of Commons in Ottawa and to provincial and territorial legislatures. These representatives pass laws, approve and watch over spending, and keep the government accountable.

The Prime Minister selects the Cabinet ministers and is responsible for the operations and policy of the government. Cabinet ministers are responsible to the elected representatives. They must keep the confidence of the House and must resign if defeated in a non-confidence vote.

Key points

• Elected representatives pass laws, approve and monitor expenditures, and keep the government accountable.
• Parliament has three parts: the Sovereign (King or Queen), the Senate and the House of Commons.
• The House of Commons is the representative chamber of Members of Parliament (MPs), elected by the people, traditionally every four years.
• Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and serve until age 75.
• The Prime Minister is Head of Government, selects the Cabinet ministers and is responsible for the operations and policy of the government.
• Cabinet ministers run federal government departments; the Cabinet prepares the budget and proposes most new laws. All MPs can question its decisions.
• Cabinet must keep the “confidence of the House” and must resign if defeated in a non-confidence vote. A vote on the budget is a matter of confidence.
• The federal government and Parliament sit in Ottawa, chosen as the capital by Queen Victoria in 1857.

Practice questions: What are the three parts of Parliament? · Who is the Head of Government in Canada? · Who appoints senators, and until what age can they serve? · Who are the members of the House of Commons? · What is the Cabinet? · What are Members of Parliament and provincial representatives responsible for? · What does the Cabinet do besides running government departments? · In what city does the federal government sit?

How a bill becomes law

A bill is a proposal for a new law. Both the House of Commons and the Senate study and review bills. A bill becomes law only after both chambers pass it and it receives royal assent from the Governor General, on behalf of the Sovereign.

Key points

• A proposed law before Parliament is called a bill.
• Step 1, first reading: the bill is considered read for the first time and is printed.
• Step 2, second reading: members debate the principle of the bill.
• Step 3, committee stage: committee members study the bill clause by clause.
• Step 4, report stage: members can make other amendments.
• Step 5, third reading: members debate and vote on the bill.
• Step 6, Senate: the bill follows a similar process in the Senate, which considers and reviews bills.
• Step 7, royal assent: the final step, granted by the Governor General after both Houses pass the bill.
• Canadians aged 18 or older should take part in democracy by voting in federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal elections.

Practice questions: What is the final step before a bill becomes law? · In what order does a bill pass through Parliament? · What happens at the committee stage of a bill? · How many times must a bill be read in the House of Commons before it can become law? · What is a proposed law before Parliament called?

Constitutional monarchy

Canada’s Head of State is a hereditary Sovereign (Queen or King) who reigns according to the Constitution, under the rule of law. Today the Sovereign is King Charles III, who succeeded Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

The Sovereign is part of Parliament but stays out of party politics. The Prime Minister, the Head of Government, actually directs how the country is governed.

Key points

• Head of State: the Sovereign, King Charles III.
• Head of Government: the Prime Minister, who actually directs the governing of the country. Canada clearly separates the two roles.
• The Sovereign plays an important, non-partisan role as the focus of citizenship and allegiance, most visibly during royal visits.
• The Sovereign is a symbol of Canadian sovereignty, a guardian of constitutional freedoms and a reflection of our history.
• As Head of the Commonwealth, the Sovereign links Canada to 55 other member countries that cooperate for social, economic and cultural progress.
• Other constitutional monarchies include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Spain, Thailand, Japan, Jordan and Morocco.
• The Governor General represents the Sovereign in Canada and is appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister, usually for five years.
• The Governor General grants royal assent to bills on behalf of the Sovereign.

Practice questions: Who is Canada’s Head of State? · How is the Governor General chosen? · What is the role of the Sovereign in Canada? · Who appoints the Lieutenant Governors? · What kind of role does the Sovereign play in Parliament? · What else does the Sovereign head, linking Canada with many other countries?

Three branches of government

Government has three branches: the executive, the legislative and the judicial. They work together, and sometimes in creative tension. This balance helps protect the rights and freedoms of Canadians.

Key points

• The three branches are the Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial.
• Laws are made by elected representatives.
• The courts settle disputes and the police enforce the laws.
• Cabinet ministers are responsible for running federal government departments.
• The interplay between the branches helps secure Canadians’ rights and freedoms.

Practice questions: What are the three branches of government in Canada? · Which branch of government is made up of the courts, which settle disputes?

Provincial and territorial government

Each province has its own elected legislature, like the House of Commons in Ottawa. The Premier leads the provincial government, and the Lieutenant Governor represents the Sovereign.

The three northern territories have small populations and are not provinces. Their governments and assemblies still do many of the same jobs. In each territory a Commissioner represents the federal government.

Key points

• Every province has its own elected Legislative Assembly; a provincial legislature is the Lieutenant Governor plus the elected Assembly.
• The Premier’s role in a province is similar to the Prime Minister’s federally.
• The Lieutenant Governor represents the Sovereign in each of the ten provinces, a role similar to the Governor General’s.
• Lieutenant Governors are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, normally for five years.
• In each of the three territories, a Commissioner represents the federal government and plays a ceremonial role.
• Provincial and territorial members are called MLAs (Legislative Assembly), MNAs (National Assembly, in Quebec), MPPs (Provincial Parliament) or MHAs (House of Assembly), depending on the province or territory.

Practice questions: Who represents the Sovereign at the federal level in Canada? · Who represents the Sovereign in each province? · Who represents the federal government in each of the three territories? · Who is the head of a provincial government? · What are the elected members of Quebec’s legislature called? · In a province, whose role is similar to that of the Governor General federally? · Which of the following is NOT part of Parliament? · Which level of government is responsible for health care? · Where are each province’s laws passed? · How many provinces and territories does Canada have?

Municipal (local) government

Local or municipal government plays an important role in citizens’ lives. A municipal council passes by-laws, which apply only to the local community. The council is usually led by a mayor or reeve.

Key points

• Laws passed by a municipal council are called by-laws and affect only the local community.
• A municipal council usually includes a mayor (or reeve) and councillors or aldermen.
• Municipal responsibilities include planning, streets and roads, garbage removal, snow removal, firefighting, ambulance and emergency services, recreation, public transit and some local health and social services.
• Municipalities also run recycling programs; most major cities have municipal police forces.
• First Nations have band chiefs and councillors with major responsibilities on reserves, including housing and schools.
• Provincial, territorial and municipal elections use a secret ballot, but their rules differ from federal elections.

Practice questions: Which of these is usually a responsibility of municipal government? · Who leads a municipal government? · What are laws passed by a municipal council called?