Canadian Government Canadian Government Canadian Government

National Political PartiesNational Political Parties

Political Ideologies Political Ideologies Left Wing Centre Right Wing

Larger role for government, smaller role for individualsMore spending on social welfare programsLess spending on the militaryGovernment Ownership of key industries & resourcesEmphasis on individual rightsMore lenient justice system, with emphasis on rehabilitating offenders

Shared role for government and individualsMaintain existing spending on social welfare programsMaintain existing spending on militaryEconomy a mix of public and private enterpriseMix between individual rights and social orderBalance between protecting society’s rights and rehabilitating offenders

Larger role for individuals, smaller role for governmentLess spending on social welfare programsMore spending on the militaryEconomy left to the private sector, with little government interferenceStrict adherence to social orderStricter justice system, with harsher punishment for offenders

Opposition PartyOpposition PartyPolitical parties sitting in the

OPPOSITION serve as watchdogs of government.

Responsibility to criticize and

challenge governmental policies, laws and decisions, in order to have the best possible outcomes throughout the political process.

Current Opposition Party is the NDP Party

Leader of the Opposition Party is Nycole Turmel

Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House There are 2 Speakers in the Houses of Parliament:

◦ Speaker of the Senate is appointed◦ Speaker of the House of Commons is elected by the

Members of Parliament in a secret ballot in the Commons Chambers after a new election.

Must be a member of the House of Commons. If the speaker is English then the Deputy Speaker

must be French and vice-versa

Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the HouseThe current Speaker of the House of

Commons is The Hon. Andrew Scheer, M.P.

Sergeant-at-ArmsSergeant-at-ArmsThe current Sergeant-at-Arms

is Ms. Jill Pay.

Duties of the Sergeant at Duties of the Sergeant at Arms Arms Appointed by Letter Patent under the

Great Seal Performs ceremonial and administrative

dutiesCommissioner of oathsBearing the MacePrecedes the Speaker as he or she

enters and leaves the Chamber each day. 

Sergeant-at-Arms preserves order in the galleries, lobbies, and corridors.

Traditionally, the position has been held by military officers.

The MaceThe MaceThe Mace is a symbol of authority held by

the Speaker of the House. It represents ancient authority of the

Crown It is carried by the Sergeant-at- Arms

during the Speaker’s Parade.Without the Mace the House of Commons

cannot hold its proceedings.The Mace was originally a weapon of the

Middle Ages. It was used by the Sergeant-at-Arms, who was the king’s body guard.

It was first used in Canada in 1792. It was not returned until 1934, by Franklin

D. Roosevelt.

The Usher of the Black The Usher of the Black RodRod Created during the reign of Henry VIII.

In Canadian Parliament, they call the House of Commons to the Senate for the Speech from the Throne or Royal Assent to Legislation.

The Usher knocks of the doors of the House of Commons 3 times and when he is admitted he requests on behalf of the sovereign “the immediate attendance of the Honourable Members in the Chamber of the Honourable Senate

Other duties include:◦ Leader of the Speaker’s Parade◦ Responsible for Senate security.

A Parliamentary PageA Parliamentary Page 40 students are selected from

various high schools across Canada to work as Pages in the House of Commons.

They work as messengers part-time To apply to be a Page:

◦ Must be a Canadian citizen◦ Graduating from a high school and

attending university full-time in September.

◦ Have an overall academic average of 80%

◦ Speak both languages at a superior level

◦ Have been accepted to one of the universities in Ottawa or Hull.

Members of Parliament Members of Parliament An MP is a federal representative who

represents people that live in a voting area called a constituency.

MPs are from all over Canada and form a group called the House of Commons.

They meet at Parliament to discuss the country’s business and things that affect the people.

They report to their constituents through meetings, phone calls, letters, newsletters and websites.

How is Law Made?How is Law Made? A law or statute begins as a bill. MPs can introduce a bill in the House of

Commons or the Senate. Each bill must have three readings. 1st reading = introduces the bill 2nd reading = members debate the general

principles of the bill, the ideas and convictions on which it is based. Examine the details of the bill, which is done in the

Committee of the Whole House. Experts are called in to give their views

3rd reading = After this, it goes to the Senate and once the Senate approves it, it goes to the Governor General for assent.

Once it is signed, it becomes law is called an Act.

ElectionsElections Held every 5 years People vote for the leader they want. Held at the national, provincial and

local level The PM calls for the election or if there

is a vote of non-confidence, which means that the government is defeated in the House of Commons because the members no longer feel the government is working well.

You must be 18 years of age. The voters elect representatives to the

House of Commons.

ElectionsElectionsCanada is organized into

app.300 electoral districts, also called ridings, seats or constituencies.

In each riding, the different political parties choose candidates to run for election.

The candidate that wins takes a seat in the House of Commons.

The party that wins the most seats forms the government.

The leader of the winning party becomes the Prime Minister.