The Role of the Prime Minister and Governor General in Canadian Government

1. The Executive Chapter 8

2. Learning Objectives • Understand the role of the GG; The prime minister and cabinet • Examine what is meant by responsible government • What is an MP and what does this person do? • Examine how the power of the prime minister might be reduced.

3. The Governor General • We need a permanent representative in the country to represent the Queen. • Term of office is 5 to 7 years. • Theoretically non-partisan appointments

4. Functions of the GG • The GG has extensive powers but they are restrained by constitutional convention. • GG has two major powers • The reserve powers. • The Ceremonial Function

5. The Reserve Powers • Power to name prime minister • Power to dismiss a prime minister who has lost confidence of the House • Make appointments to the judiciary and the senate • Dissolve parliament and call elections.

6. The Ceremonial Function • The head of state represents the crown • Presides over a number of important political ceremonies, such as the opening of parliament • Represents Canada at a wide variety of events when official representation is needed.

7. Responsible Government • Crown will appoint advisors who are MPs • Crown will appoint ministers only MPs who have the confidence of the house. • Crown will act only on the advice of its ministers • Ministers will act together as a team “collective responsibility” • When a ministry loses the confidence of the House it must resign or request a new election.

8. The Cabinet • Queen's Privy Council for Canada: is given the right to advise the Governor General. • Privy Council is appointed by the GG, but these appointments are under the advice of the prime minister. • These are life time appointments.

9. The Cabinet • The subset of the privy council is the cabinet which actually advises the GG. • The members of the cabinet are called ministers. • The Cabinet works as a team under the doctrine of collective responsibility.

10. The Cabinet Committee System • The complexity of government requires the cabinet to meet in sub committees. • Cabinet Committee Membership • Economic UnionSocial Union • Special Committee of Council • Treasury Board

11. The Prime Minister • Most powerful politician in our regime. • The Prime minister is the “First Minister” • PMO – Prime Minister’s Office. • Privy Council office

12. The Civil Service • The Crown has servant to carry out executive tasks, known as the civil service. • Line Departments – some sort of support given to the general public. • Central agencies: PCO or Treasury Board, these coordinate government policy rather than provide services.

13. The Role of Parliament • Parliament consists of the house of Commons, Senate and the Queen. • Only the House of Commons is a democratic institution. • The power of parliament has waned under the party system. • Power was then transferred to the cabinet.

14. Prime Minister • Holds enormous power, yet neither the PM nor the cabinet are mentioned in the Constitution Act. • With cabinet, the PM acts to advise the GG and this role is called responsible government.

15. Sources of Prime Ministerial Power • Head of the party the wins the most seats in a general election is the prime minister. • This is an appointment by the Governor General, but her role is to ensure that the party that can best hold the “confidence” of the house will be in power. • The prime minister has power because this person decides promotions within the Members of Parliament.

16. So what does a Canadian MP make? • The base salary for all MPs is $141,000.00. As well, each MP has a non-taxable expense allowance of at least $22,950 (it may be higher, depending on the MP's riding). MPs also get a housing allowance of $12,000 for accommodation in Ottawa . • On top of their base salaries, some members of parliament receive extra pay: • Prime Minister$141,000 • Cabinet Minister$67,600 • Leader of the Opposition$67,600 • Other Party Leaders$14,300 • Parliamentary Secretary$14,300 • Speaker of the House$67,600 • Other members of parliament, such as chairs of committees and party whips also receive extra compensation on top of their base salaries.

17. The Current Liberal Powerbase • 1 prime minister • 25 cabinet ministers • 12 secretaries of state • 27 parliamentary secretaries • 64 potential appointments from a total of 135 Liberal MPs out of 308 seats • In the Chrétien government there were 55 appointments out of 169 Liberals

18. How might the power of the PM be limited? • Can’t do it constitutionally • Not given power constitutionally • Constitutional changes are difficult and nearly impossible so far in Canadian history • Could do it by convention, or changing the composition of government. • Get more MPs

19. The British Cabinet • Ministers of State 29 • Under Secretaries of State/Parliamentary Secretaries 35 • Whips 22 • Law Officers 3 • Total 112 out of 410 from a total of 659 seats.

20. The British PM is less powerful • There are three times as many backbenchers who know they never have a chance to be in cabinet.

21. Other ways to limit the power of the PM • Reform the leadership vote to allow only MPs to select leader. • Limit the need to have party solidarity and the threat of confidence votes • Set the date for the election outside the PM’s control (such as B.C) • Increase the power of committees