How Canadians Govern Themselves
Canada is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy, and a constitutional monarchy. Power is divided between the federal government in Ottawa and the ten provinces, with three territories in the North.
The three branches of government
- Executive — the Sovereign (His Majesty King Charles III), represented in Canada by the Governor General; the Prime Minister as head of government; and the Cabinet (federal ministers chosen by the PM).
- Legislative — Parliament, made up of the elected House of Commons and the appointed Senate.
- Judicial — the courts, independent of the other two branches and headed by the Supreme Court of Canada.
Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected by Canadians. Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, and serve until age 75. Most bills must pass both Houses and receive royal assent from the Governor General to become law.
The Sovereign and the Governor General
The Sovereign is shared with the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and many other Commonwealth realms. In Canada, the Governor General represents the Sovereign and performs most of the duties of state. Each province has a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the Governor General to represent the Crown.
Federal vs provincial powers
The Constitution Act, 1867 divides responsibilities: - Federal — national defence, foreign affairs, immigration, criminal law, citizenship, money and banking, Aboriginal affairs, and trade between provinces. - Provincial — education, health care, natural resources, civil law, municipal government, and highways. - Shared — agriculture, immigration, pensions, and the environment. - Territorial governments have a more limited list of powers, granted by Parliament, but otherwise function much like provinces.
Municipalities and First Nations governance
Cities and towns are created by the provinces and exercise powers delegated to them — roads, water, transit, libraries, recreation, and local zoning. First Nations bands, in many parts of the country, have their own elected band councils with authority over reserves under the Indian Act, or under modern self-government agreements.
How a federal government is formed
After a general election, the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons is invited by the Governor General to become Prime Minister. If that party holds more than half the seats it's called a majority government; otherwise a minority government. The PM and Cabinet stay in office as long as they hold the confidence of the House.