Canadian Government Structure Overview

Canadian Government Structure

• Canada's government is based on the British North America Act, establishing a federal and provincial system with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
• Confederation occurred in 1867.

Executive Branch

• The Prime Minister (PM) holds significant power, although the Queen is the formal head of state.
• The PM appoints cabinet ministers, who form the executive branch, proposing most laws.
• Ministerial portfolios and appointments are determined by the PM.

Legislative Branch

• Also known as Parliament, comprising the House of Commons, Senate, and the Governor General.
• House of Commons:
  • Elected Members of Parliament (MPs) represent their constituencies.
  • MPs vote and debate bills initiated by the cabinet.
  • House proceedings are bilingual
  • Representation is based on population.
• Senate:
  • Senators are appointed by the PM.
  • Represents the interests of various Canadian regions.
  • The Senate can introduce bills but primarily debates and votes on those originating in the House of Commons.
  • May offer a "second thought" on legislation.
  • Has the power to reject bills from the House of Commons, but this is rare.

Prime Minister's Office

• Part of the executive branch, composed of the PM and staff.
• Shows bias (partisan) in policy decisions.
• The PM appoints senators, ministers, the Governor General, and judges.

Judicial Branch

• Consists of various courts (provincial, federal, tax, Supreme Court).
• The final authority on legal issues, ensuring respect for rights.
• Judges interpret and apply laws.

Supreme Court of Canada

• Established in 1875, replacing the Privy Council in London as Canada's highest court.
• Comprised of nine justices (three from Quebec, three from Ontario, two from Western provinces, one from Atlantic Canada)
• Justices can serve until 75 with 10 years of experience in other courts.
• The Governor General appoints justices with PM and Cabinet advice.
• Operates with a minimum of five judges to prevent ties.

Bill → Law Process

• House of Commons Bill Process:
  • First reading: introduction of the bill, no debate or voting.
  • Second reading: debate and vote on general principles.
  • Committee stage: amendments and detailed review.
  • Report stage: further review on amendments.
  • Third reading: final debate and vote.
• Senate Bill Process (following House passage):
  • Similar stages as House bill process.

Types of Bills

• Public bills: proposed by the cabinet, require government funding and affect public.
• Private member bills: proposed by MPs or senators focusing on specific groups .
• Private bills: driven by specific petitions, often affecting only those who requested the bill.

Electoral System

• First-Past-the-Post (FPTP):
  • Advantages: efficient, clear representation, stable government.
  • Disadvantages: inaccurate representation, votes can be wasted.
  • Proportional Representation (PR):
  • Advantages: more accurately reflects voter preferences, helps smaller parties.
  • Disadvantages: less stable governments, can be complex.

Lobbyists and Accountability

• Lobbyists: individuals who influence MPs and groups' opinions on bills and issues.
• Federal Accountability Act (2016): Lobbyists must document meetings and affiliations.
• Commissioner of Lobbying: responsible for overseeing lobbyists.

Media and Misinformation

• Parliamentary Press Gallery: The venue for reporters to cover Parliament.
• Media portrayals, bias, and partisan attacks on candidates are common during elections.
• Misinformation and disinformation can arise in various forms including fabricated, manipulated, imposter , and misleading content.

Key Terms

• Government: The people or group with power to govern.
• Governance: The systematic process of governing.
• Cabinet: Group of ministers appointed by the PM.
• Governor General: Represents the Queen in Canada, has special advisory roles.
• Political Party: Group sharing similar views on governance.
• Platform: A political party's agenda of policies.
• Bill: A proposed law.
• Lobbying: Expressing interests to influence policy.
• Media: Instruments for information dissemination.
• Journalists: Those who collect, report, and analyze information.
• Bias: Favoring an opinion based on assumptions.
• Mis/disinformation: False or misleading information.