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Chapter 5: How Canadians govern themselves

A federal state

Canada is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. Being a federal state means that power is divided between a national government and the provinces. This division was first written down in 1867 in the British North America Act, which is now called the Constitution Act, 1867.

The federal government looks after matters that concern the whole country or other countries: defence, foreign policy, trade and communications between provinces, currency, navigation, criminal law and citizenship. The provinces look after education, health, natural resources, highways, property and civil rights, and municipal government. Agriculture and immigration are shared. Federalism lets each province shape policies for its own people and try out new ideas. Every province has its own elected Legislative Assembly. The three northern territories have small populations and are not provinces, but their governments do many of the same jobs.

Parliamentary democracy

In a parliamentary democracy, Canadians elect representatives to the House of Commons in Ottawa and to provincial and territorial legislatures. These members pass laws, approve and watch over government spending, and keep the government accountable.

Cabinet ministers answer to the elected members. They must keep the "confidence of the House" and must resign if they lose a non-confidence vote. The Prime Minister chooses the Cabinet and is responsible for how the government runs and what policies it follows.

The House of Commons is the elected chamber; its members are chosen by the people, traditionally every four years. Senators are not elected: the Governor General appoints them on the advice of the Prime Minister, and they may serve until age 75. Both chambers review bills, which are proposals for new laws.

How a bill becomes law

A bill must pass both the House of Commons and the Senate and then receive royal assent before it becomes law. Royal assent is granted by the Governor General on behalf of the Sovereign.

The steps are easy to remember in order. At first reading, the bill is considered read for the first time and is printed. At second reading, members debate its principle, or main idea. At the committee stage, a committee studies it clause by clause. At the report stage, members can make further amendments. At third reading, members debate the bill and vote on it. The bill then goes through a similar process in the Senate. Once both Houses have passed it, the bill receives royal assent and becomes law.

Constitutional monarchy

Because Canada is a constitutional monarchy, its head of state is a hereditary Sovereign (a King or Queen) who reigns according to the Constitution, under the rule of law. The Sovereign is part of Parliament and plays a non-partisan role as the focus of citizenship and allegiance. The Crown is a symbol of Canadian sovereignty, a guardian of constitutional freedoms and a reflection of our history. The Prime Minister, by contrast, is the head of government.

In Canada, the Sovereign is represented by the Governor General, who is appointed by the Sovereign on the Prime Minister's advice, usually for five years. In each of the ten provinces, the Lieutenant Governor represents the Sovereign; the Governor General appoints them on the Prime Minister's advice, normally for five years. The executive, legislative and judicial branches of government work together, and sometimes in creative tension, to protect Canadians' rights and freedoms.

Provincial and territorial government

Each province and territory has an elected legislature that passes its own laws. Depending on the province or territory, its elected members are called members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), members of the National Assembly (MNAs), members of the Provincial Parliament (MPPs) or members of the House of Assembly (MHAs).

In each province, the Premier plays a role like the Prime Minister's, and the Lieutenant Governor plays a role like the Governor General's. The territories are different: there is no Lieutenant Governor. Instead, a Commissioner represents the federal government in each territory and plays a ceremonial role.

Municipal and First Nations government

Every province has municipalities, usually a city, town or village. A municipal council passes laws called by-laws, which affect only the local community. The council is usually made up of a mayor (or reeve) and councillors or aldermen.

Municipalities are usually responsible for local planning, streets and roads, garbage removal, snow removal, firefighting, ambulance and other emergency services, recreation facilities, public transit and some local health and social services. Most large cities also have their own police.

First Nations have band chiefs and councillors with major responsibilities on reserves, including housing, schools and other services. Provincial, territorial and national Aboriginal (Indigenous) organizations are an important part of the dialogue between Aboriginal people and governments.

Practice questions on this chapter

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