What is Government?What is Government?

Government is the word used to Government is the word used to describe the group of people who describe the group of people who

make the laws in a country, make the laws in a country, province or town.province or town.

There are many different systems There are many different systems of government in the world.of government in the world.

MonarchyMonarchy is when the people are is when the people are ruled by and king or queen.ruled by and king or queen.

DictatorshipDictatorship is when one person has is when one person has all the power. Dictators tell people all the power. Dictators tell people what to do, often using the police what to do, often using the police and army to enforce their wishes.and army to enforce their wishes.

AnarchyAnarchy is when there is no system is when there is no system of government in place. It is every of government in place. It is every person out for themselves – doing person out for themselves – doing what they want to do, when they do what they want to do, when they do it.it.

What kind of government does What kind of government does Canada have?Canada have?

Canada is governed by a Democracy. Canada is governed by a Democracy. This means that the people vote for a This means that the people vote for a person to represent them and their person to represent them and their interests and opinions in the government.interests and opinions in the government.

A Constitutional Monarchy is where a A Constitutional Monarchy is where a Monarch existed and the people started to Monarch existed and the people started to vote for their own people to represent vote for their own people to represent them, but kept the Monarch on as a them, but kept the Monarch on as a figurehead.figurehead.

As well as being a democracy,As well as being a democracy, Canada is Canada is also considered a Constitutional also considered a Constitutional Monarchy.Monarchy.

Canada used to be a colony of Great Britain. Canada used to be a colony of Great Britain. When Canada became its own country in When Canada became its own country in 1867, we kept the British Monarch 1867, we kept the British Monarch as our own.as our own.

Canada’s current Canada’s current Monarch is…Monarch is…Queen Elizabeth IIQueen Elizabeth II

Check up!Check up!

What system of government does What system of government does Canada have?Canada have?

What is a constitutional monarchy?

Who is our current monarch?

Even though the Queen is just a figurehead, Even though the Queen is just a figurehead, she is still the head of the government.she is still the head of the government.

The Queen

Governor General

Executive Branch

The Prime Minister

Cabinet Ministers

Legislative Branch

The Senate

House of Commons

Judicial Branch

Supreme CourtFederal Court

Provincial Courts

Under the Queen is the Governor General. Under the Queen is the Governor General. He is the Queen’s representative in He is the Queen’s representative in Canada. Canada. All laws must be approved by All laws must be approved by him before they are passed.him before they are passed.

The current Governor General is The current Governor General is the Honourable David Johnston.the Honourable David Johnston.

Within theWithin the Executive BranchExecutive Branch is theis the Prime MinisterPrime Minister and theand the CabinetCabinet..

The Cabinet is made up of The Cabinet is made up of Members of Parliament who are Members of Parliament who are chosen by the Prime Minister to be chosen by the Prime Minister to be in charge of certain areas of the in charge of certain areas of the government, like fisheries, or government, like fisheries, or health care, or agriculture.health care, or agriculture.

The Prime Minister is the leader The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party that wins of the political party that wins the most seats in the House of the most seats in the House of Commons.Commons.

Within the Within the Legislative BranchLegislative Branch, there is the , there is the SenateSenate and the and the House of CommonsHouse of Commons..

The House of Commons is made up of The House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament who are Members of Parliament who are elected by the citizens of Canada.elected by the citizens of Canada. The The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are Prime Minister and the Cabinet are also Members of Parliament (MPs).also Members of Parliament (MPs).

The Senate is made up of Senators The Senate is made up of Senators who are appointed by the Prime who are appointed by the Prime Minister.Minister. Once a Senator is Once a Senator is appointed, they have the job until appointed, they have the job until they quit, die or have to retire at 75.they quit, die or have to retire at 75.

The Judicial Branch is made up of the The Judicial Branch is made up of the Supreme CourtSupreme Court, the , the Federal Court of Federal Court of CanadaCanada and the and the Provincial Courts of Provincial Courts of Canada.Canada.

Check up!Check up!Who is the head of Canada’s government?Who is the head of Canada’s government?

Who makes up the Executive Branch?

How is the Prime Minister chosen?

Who is the Queen’s representative in Canada?

Who is the cabinet?

Who makes up the legislative branch?

True or False – the Prime Minister and cabinet are also MPs?

On May 2On May 2ndnd, 2011, Canadians will , 2011, Canadians will go to the polls to vote for the next go to the polls to vote for the next Federal Government. Federal Government.

Citizens across Canada vote for the Citizens across Canada vote for the Member of Parliament who will Member of Parliament who will represent them in the House of represent them in the House of Commons.Commons.

Canada is divided up into Ridings or Canada is divided up into Ridings or Constituencies.Constituencies.

Each riding has its own Member of Each riding has its own Member of Parliament.Parliament.

A city could have many ridings within it, A city could have many ridings within it, while many towns and villages could all be while many towns and villages could all be in the same riding.in the same riding.

These ridings are based on population, not These ridings are based on population, not on area.on area.

This map shows how many ridings This map shows how many ridings are in each province.are in each province.

Almost all Almost all Members of ParliamentMembers of Parliament belong to a belong to a Political Party.Political Party.

Political parties are people who join Political parties are people who join together because they share the together because they share the same views and ideas on how the same views and ideas on how the country should be governed. country should be governed.

There are many There are many political partiespolitical parties in in Canada.Canada.

Registered Political PartiesRegistered Political Parties Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada Bloc Québécois Bloc Québécois Canadian Action Party Canadian Action Party Christian Heritage Party of Canada Christian Heritage Party of Canada Communist Party of Canada Communist Party of Canada Conservative Party of Canada Conservative Party of Canada First Peoples National Party of Canada First Peoples National Party of Canada Green Party of Canada Green Party of Canada Liberal Party of Canada Liberal Party of Canada Libertarian Party of Canada Libertarian Party of Canada Marijuana Party Marijuana Party Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada New Democratic Party New Democratic Party Newfoundland and Labrador First Party Newfoundland and Labrador First Party People's Political Power Party of Canada People's Political Power Party of Canada Progressive Canadian Party Progressive Canadian Party Western Block Party Western Block Party Work Less Party Work Less Party

But the main political parties are:But the main political parties are:

The Bloc QuebecoisThe Bloc Quebecois

The Conservative Party of CanadaThe Conservative Party of Canada

The Liberal Party of CanadaThe Liberal Party of Canada

The New Democratic PartyThe New Democratic Party

Voters usually vote for the candidate in Voters usually vote for the candidate in their their ridingriding who belongs to the who belongs to the political political partyparty that they support. that they support.

The leader of the The leader of the political partypolitical party who has the who has the most elected most elected Members of ParliamentMembers of Parliament becomes becomes Prime MinsterPrime Minster..

If the candidate gets the most votes in If the candidate gets the most votes in their their ridingriding, then they will go to Ottawa to , then they will go to Ottawa to represent that riding as a represent that riding as a Member of Member of Parliament.Parliament.

Jack Layton – New Democratic PartyJack Layton – New Democratic Party

Michael Ignatieff – LiberalsMichael Ignatieff – Liberals

Stephen Harper – ConservativesStephen Harper – Conservatives

Gilles Duceppe – Bloc QuebecoisGilles Duceppe – Bloc Quebecois

The leaders of the main politicalThe leaders of the main politicalparties are:parties are:

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What is a riding?What is a riding?

How are ridings decided?

What is a political party?

What are the four main political parties in Canada?

Oakbank is in the riding of Oakbank is in the riding of Provencher.Provencher.

Janine Gibson – Green Party of Canada

Terry Hayward- Liberal Party of Canada

Ric Lim – Pirate Party of Canada

Al Mackling– New Democratic Party

David Reimer – Christian Heritage Party of Canada

Vic Toews – Conservative Party of Canada

The following are the candidates running for Member of Parliament in the riding of Provencher in 2011.

Vic Toews of the Conservative Party of Vic Toews of the Conservative Party of Canada won the last election in 2008, and Canada won the last election in 2008, and is currently the Member of Parliament for is currently the Member of Parliament for the riding of Provencher. In the 2011 the riding of Provencher. In the 2011 election he is known as the incumbent.election he is known as the incumbent.

In the 2011 election, candidates who would like to run as a Member of Parliament must have nominated

themselves by April 11th, 2011. To run they must have filed papers with the

signatures of 50-100 constituents who support them. They also must be at least 18 years of age. Often the candidates are

supported by a specific political party, who helps with fundraising and the

campaign!

The EndThe End