Who’s Who In GovernmentWho are the key figures in Canadian

government and what are there roles?

Canada’s official head of state → Head of the Commonwealth, Head of Church of England (Anglican Church)

Technically the monarch had enormous power Dissolves parliament Calls elections Signs bills into laws

Power is limited by constitution and custom → monarch must submit to the wishes of the elected officials

Monarch is an institution → powerful symbol of unity of the state and the rule of law → monarch is responsible to all her/his subjects

The Queen

Queen’s representative in Canada Canada’s oldest institution → Samuel de Champlain rep. King of

France Officially appointed by Queen, but Queen acts on advice of PM Duties:

Commander-In-Chief of armed forces Welcomes and entertains heads of state Promotes national unity and culture Must be bilingual → 5 year term Free house and $102,700 salary (tax free)

Office largely symbolic and ceremonial, but some important functions Must ensure Canada has a Prime Minister

Governor General

Provincial version of Governor General (GG) → appointed by GG and Prime Minister

Reads Speech from Throne, signs bills, swears in ministers, performs ceremonial roles

Lieutenant-Governor

Canada’s elected head of government Leader of the political party with the most seats in the House

of Commons Most powerful politician in country Base salary: $327,400 (2014) Duties

Selecting cabinet minister Chairs caucus (party) meetings and cabinet meetings Determines government policy and agenda Appoints Governor General, Lieutenant Governor, Supreme

Court Justices, Chief of the Defense Staff, Commissioner of RCMP etc.

The Prime Minister

Provincial version of Prime Minister Very similar duties to that of Prime Minister

→ focused on provincial matters Participate in first ministers meetings Some premiers make a significant national

contribution → Tommy Douglas (Saskatchewan) first introduced provincial medicare system later adopted by Federal government

The Premier

Appointed members of the “Upper House” Canadian version of the British House of Lords Created for three reasons

Allow upper class to review legislation Being appointed → no conflicts of interests → make the decision

that is best for the country Represent regional interests → Senate’s 105 seats are divided

regionally

Senators meet for 100 days a year → work on committees, examine bills passed by House of Commons, review public policy in specific areas

Senators

Elected representatives of government Federally → 301 M Ps (Member of Parliament) Provincially → M. P. P. (Member of Provincial Parliament) or MLA

(Members of Legislative Assembly) Quebec → MNA (Members of the National Assembly) We vote directly for our MP’s Job → represent the views and concerns of their constituents Base salary: $66,900 MPs become cabinet ministers, prime ministers and sit on standing

committees etc… Cabinet → group of MPs appointed by the Prime Minister or Premier

to administer the affairs of a particular department (ie. Finance, Defense, etc…)

Members of Parliament

Cabinet ministers are accountable to Parliament → Canadian people

Ministerial responsibility → Cabinet minister assumes responsibility for all the actions of his/her department → if scandal or controversy arises opposition members will blame the Cabinet minister

Ministerial Accountability

MPs assigned by the opposition parties to critique the actions and policies of actual cabinet ministers

Shadow Cabinet

Cities and Towns → Municipal council Police Fire Ambulance service Zoning and by-laws

Mayor → head of government Mayor is directly elected by all the people of the

municipality Councilor → elected representative of a city district City Council → mayor + councilors

 Local (Municipal) Government

Canadians who work for the government Highest public servant → Deputy Minister →

professional administrator of government department

Public Servants