Government

Three key facts about Canada's government

• Federal state — powers are shared between the federal Parliament in Ottawa and the 10 provincial and 3 territorial legislatures.
• Parliamentary democracy — Canadians elect representatives who make laws on their behalf and hold the government accountable.
• Constitutional monarchy — the head of state (King Charles III) reigns according to the Constitution and the rule of law.

Federal state — who does what

The responsibilities of the federal and provincial governments were set in 1867 by the British North America Act, now known as the Constitution Act, 1867. Federalism allows provinces to tailor policies to their populations and to experiment with new ideas.

• Federal — national defence, foreign policy, interprovincial and international trade and communications, currency, navigation, criminal law and citizenship.
• Provincial — municipal government, education, health, natural resources, property and civil rights, and highways.
• Shared — agriculture and immigration are shared between Ottawa and the provinces.
• Municipal — water, public transit, snow clearing, fire, police, libraries (created and supervised by provincial governments).
• Territorial — the three northern territories are not provinces but their elected governments perform many of the same functions.

Parliament — Crown, Senate and House of Commons

Federal laws are made by Parliament, which has three parts: the Sovereign (the Crown), the Senate and the House of Commons.

• House of Commons — 338 elected Members of Parliament (MPs), one per riding. It is the representative chamber where the government is held accountable.
• Senate — 105 Senators appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. Senators represent Canada's regions, review bills passed by the Commons, and serve until age 75.
• The Crown — represented by the Governor General, who grants royal assent to bills so they become law.

The three branches of government

• Executive — the Prime Minister and Cabinet, who put laws into action.
• Legislative — Parliament (the Crown + Senate + House of Commons), which makes laws.
• Judicial — the courts, which interpret and apply the law independently of the other branches.

The interplay between the three branches — working together but sometimes in creative tension — helps secure the rights and freedoms of Canadians.

Key federal roles

• Sovereign — head of state, currently King Charles III.
• Governor General — the King's representative in Canada at the federal level. Appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister, usually for five years.
• Lieutenant Governor — the Sovereign's representative in each of the 10 provinces, also appointed for about five years.
• Prime Minister — head of government; leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons.
• Cabinet — chosen by the Prime Minister from elected MPs; each minister is responsible for a department (e.g. Finance, Health, Foreign Affairs).
• Members of Parliament (MPs) — elected by voters in their riding; represent the people in the House of Commons.
• Senators — appointed; review legislation and represent regional interests.
• Speaker — chosen by MPs to chair the House of Commons and keep debate orderly.

Constitutional monarchy and the Commonwealth

As a constitutional monarchy, Canada's head of state is a hereditary Sovereign who reigns according to the Constitution and the rule of law. The Sovereign is a non-partisan symbol of Canadian sovereignty, a guardian of constitutional freedoms, and a reflection of Canada's history.

There is a clear distinction in Canada between the head of state — the Sovereign — and the head of government — the Prime Minister, who actually directs the governing of the country.

Responsible government and confidence

Canada practises responsible government — the principle that the Cabinet (the executive) must keep the confidence of the elected House. The Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers are responsible to the elected MPs and must retain the "confidence of the House". If the government is defeated in a non-confidence vote, it must resign — and the Governor General will normally call an election.

Provincial and territorial governments

Each province and territory has an elected single-chamber legislature where provincial and territorial laws are passed. Provincial premiers play a role similar to that of the Prime Minister; Lieutenant Governors play a role similar to that of the Governor General.

• Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) — most provinces.
• Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) — Quebec.
• Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPPs) — Ontario.
• Members of the House of Assembly (MHAs) — Newfoundland and Labrador.
• In the three territories, a Commissioner represents the federal government in a ceremonial role similar to the Lieutenant Governor's.

Voting and citizen participation

Living in a democracy gives Canadian citizens the right and responsibility to take part in the decisions that affect them. It is important for Canadians aged 18 or older to participate by voting in federal, provincial / territorial and municipal elections, and by following debates in Parliament and in their legislature.

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