Government in Canada

1. Government in Canada

2. What is the purpose of Government?

3. How has government affected you today?

4. Purpose of Government: Government sets and enforces the rules so that large groups of people can live together in peace and security To protect us - rights/ freedom - property /nation To provide services :-water -highways - buses - health care -electricity -education In a free society all citizens must obey society’s rules but are treated equally Government exists to make society function smoothly

5. Types of Government • What do you know about these? • Monarchy- • Dictatorship- • Oligarchy- • Aristocracy- • Democracy- • Government ? What Type?

6. Basics terms to know: Freedom- rights of the individual are most important Equality- all individuals are treated the same way Example : Intellectual Freedom – freedom and the right to believe and think in what a person wishes Intellectual Equality– people are meant to think the same

7. Political Ideologies Ways people think politically • Five Major Ideologies: • Liberalism • Reform Liberalism • Conservativism • Socialism • Communism • Fascism

8. 1. Liberalism- classic • Response to the Industrial Revolution • -believes in economic and intellectual freedom • -ability/effort = success • - sees people as good less government • -commitment to progress

9. Reform liberalism • late 1800’s • -John Maynard Keynes said “All people have access to the basics in life” (food, shelter, etc) • -stronger commitment towards economic equality • - government should step in on a limited basis and control the economy/ debt will rise

10. 2. Conservatism • - late 1700’s • - influenced by Edmund Burke • - response to liberalism- to conserve traditional society • -the monarch ruling over Parliament • -believe in economic freedom (capitalism) • -believed later on in progressive change (nothing radical) • -believe in intellectual equality (moral issues public)

11. 3. Socialism • - early 1800’s • -Jean Jacques Rousseau’s response to the Industrial Revolution • -believed that government needed to be heavily involved in workplace to create economic equality and intellectual freedom for citizens • -government should control economy, health care and welfare

12. 4. Communism • – Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels • -focused on negative effects of capitalism- wealthy few • -believed in economic equality and public ownership • -no private property/ no economic freedom • -violent overthrow of wealthy classes by working proletariat • -in theory-true communism has little government

13. 5. Fascism • 1920’s- 1945 • -key figures were Hitler and Mussolini • -ruled by a strong” father figure”- mythical links to the past • -believe freedom only if it contributes to the state • -all economic and intellectual resources directed towards the purpose of building a militarily strong, fiercely proud, united country • -tight regulations on economic and intellectual freedom

14. Political Spectrum Left Centre Right Canadian Political Parties

15. Canadian Political Parties • Canadian political parties tend to be moderate in nature • Left WingCentreRight Wing New Democrats LiberalConservative Green Party?Reform Party Communist Party

16. Provincial Test Question Which Canadian political party has been historically supportive of labour unions? A. Green Party B. Liberal Party C. Conservative Party D. New Democratic Party

17. Provincial Test Question strong military private ownership of property allowed priority of the state over individual rights What political ideology is associated with this list? A. fascism B. socialism C. communism D. conservatism

18. Provincial Test Question • moral standards should override individual rights • traditional values should be preserved • large corporations should be given tax breaks 2. Which political ideology is associated with this list? • A. socialism • B. liberalism • C. communism • D. conservatism

19. The Canadian Government Constitution: • Is the supreme law or theory of government, and contains the laws, organs, responsibilities, and institutions needed to govern • The Constitution lays out: • purpose of our country and how it is to be run • who is responsible for the affairs of our country • it lays out the division of powers and who has authority over what • it states who, how and when officials are to be elected and who has the rights and responsibilities to vote • it lays out the rights and responsibilities of its citizens (Charter of Rights and Freedoms) • Canada’s Constitution has its roots in British tradition (parliamentary system) with influence from the United States (federalism)

20. Canadian Government

21. Canadian Constitution • The patriation of the Canadian Constitution was achieved in 1982 when the British and Canadian parliaments passed parallel acts – the Canada Act, 1982 ([UK] 1982, c.11) in London, and the Constitution Act 1982 in Ottawa. Thereafter, the United Kingdom was formally absolved of any remaining responsibility for, or jurisdiction over, Canada; and Canada became responsible for her own destiny. In a formal ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the Queen signed both acts into law on April 17, 1982.

22. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms • The Canada Act/Constitution Act included the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Prior to the Charter, there were various statutes which protected an assortment of civil rights and obligations, but nothing was enshrined in the Constitution until 1982. The Charter has thus placed a strong focus upon individual and collective rights of the people of Canada.

23. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms • The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a bill of rights entrenched in the Constitution of Canada. It forms the first part of the Constitution Act, 1982. The Charter guarantees certain political rights to Canadian citizens and civil rights of everyone in Canada from the policies and actions of all levels of government. It is designed to unify Canadians around a set of principles that embody those rights. The Charter was signed into law by Queen Elizabeth II of Canada on April 17, 1982 (along with the rest of the Act).

24. Fundamental freedoms • Fundamental freedoms • section 2, namely freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of belief, freedom of expression, freedom of the press and of other media of communication, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association.

25. Democratic rights • Democratic rights: generally, the right to participate in political activities and the right to a democratic form of government: • Section 3: the right to vote and to be eligible to serve as member of a legislature. • Section 4: the maximum duration of legislatures is set at five years. • Section 5: an annual sitting of legislatures is required as a minimum.

26. Mobility rights • Mobility rights: (section 6): the right to enter and leave Canada, and to move to and take up residence in any province, or to reside outside Canada.

27. Legal rights • Legal rights: rights of people in dealing with the justice system and law enforcement, namely: • Section 7: right to life, liberty, and security of the person. • Section 8: freedom from unreasonable search and seizure. • Section 9: freedom from arbitrary detainment or imprisonment. • Section 10: right to legal counsel and the guarantee of habeas corpus. • Section 11: rights in criminal and penal matters such as the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. • Section 12: right not to be subject to cruel and unusual punishment. • Section 13: rights against self-incrimination • Section 14: rights to an interpreter in a court proceeding.

28. Equality rights • Equality rights: (section 15): equal treatment before and under the law, and equal protection and benefit of the law without discrimination.

29. Language rights: Generally, the right to use either the English or French language in communications with Canada's federal government and certain provincial governments. Specifically, the language laws enshrined in the Charter include: Section 16: English and French are the official languages of Canada and New Brunswick. Section 16.1: the English and French-speaking communities of New Brunswick have equal rights to educational and cultural institutions. Section 17: the right to use either official language in Parliament or the New Brunswick legislature. Section 18: the statutes and proceedings of Parliament and the New Brunswick legislature are to be printed in both official languages.

30. Minority language education rights • Minority language education rights: • (Section 23): rights for certain citizens belonging to French or English-speaking minority communities to be educated in their own language.

31. Language rights: • Section 19: both official languages may be used in federal and New Brunswick courts. • Section 20: the right to communicate with and be served by the federal and New Brunswick governments in either official language. • Section 21: other constitutional language rights outside the Charter regarding English and French are sustained. • Section 22: existing rights to use languages besides English and French are not affected by the fact that only English and French have language rights in the Charter. (Hence, if there are any rights to use Aboriginal languages anywhere they would continue to exist, though they would have no direct protection under the Charter.)

32. The Amending Formula • The general formula is set out in section 38(1), known as the "7/50 formula", requires: (a) assent from both the House of Commons and the Senate; (b) the approval of two-thirds of the provincial legislatures (at least seven provinces), representing at least 50% of the population (effectively, this would include at least Quebec or Ontario, as they are the most populous provinces). • This formula specifically applies to amendments related to the proportionate representation in Parliament, powers, selection, and composition of the Senate, the Supreme Court and the addition of provinces or territories.

33. Notwithstanding Clause • Section Thirty-three of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is part of the Constitution of Canada. It is commonly known as the notwithstanding clause (or "la clause dérogatoire" in French), or as the override power, and it allows Parliament or provincial legislatures to override certain portions of the Charter.

34. Provincial Test Question • Use the following newspaper headline to answer question The Ottawa Examiner FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS FIGHT OVER AMENDING FORMULA Which document is associated with this headline? A. Bilingualism Act B. Canada Elections Act C. Constitution Act, 1982 D. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948

35. Provincial Test Question Which section from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms would prevent a government agency from discriminating on the basis of gender? A. equality rights B. mobility rights C. democratic rights D. fundamental freedoms

36. Provincial Test Question What is the function of the notwithstanding clause in the Canadian Constitution? A. It authorizes governments to override certain rights and freedoms. B. It states all Charter rights are guaranteed equally to men and women. C. It clarifies the responsibility of the territorial governments in the Charter. D. It allows courts to award remedies to those whose rights have been denied.

37. Provincial Test Question Which two factors provide the basis for the amending formula of Canada’s Constitution? A. population and number of provinces B. language and regional representation C. ethnic balance and religious diversity D. economic growth and residual powers

38. Canadian Government

39. Canada is a Constitutional Monarchy • Queen Elizabeth II • The Queen is the official Head of State but has a very limited role in our day to day governmental affairs • The constitution clearly lays out her role as a figure head • But what does Rick Mercer think?

40. Canadian Governmental Structure Federalism: Canada has three levels of government • 1)National 2) Provincial 3) Municipal • This type of structure serves our nation well because of our country’s size and varying regional concerns • Both central and regional governments have clearly defined powers

41. Parliamentary Democracy • Canadians have a representative democracy (roughly 100,000/1 seat in House of Commons) • Our elected officials are responsible to the electorate – responsible government • Canada has universal sufferage (everyone over 18 votes)

42. Branches of Government • At both Federal and Provincial Levels • 1) Executive • 2) Legislative • 3) Judicial

43. Executive Levels • a)Federal- Gov. Gen., PM, Cabinet b)Provincial- Lt. Gov., Premier, Cabinet c)Municipal- Mayor, Counsellors

44. Executive Branch(Federal) • Queen • -Head of State –Queen Elizabeth II • -no bill becomes law without Royal Assent • Governor General • – The Right Honourable David Lloyd Johnston • -Queen’s representative (gives royal Assent) • -appointed by Prime Minister (for 6 years max.) • -opens Parliament- reads Speech from the Throne • -greet foreign dignitaries – present awards

45. Prime Minister Currently Stephen Harper -leader of the party with the most elected representatives in the House of Commons (we don’t directly pick our leader) The Prime Minister lives at 24 Sussex Drive

46. Canadian Government

47. Who’s Who in Parliament?

48. Prime Minister • -As head of the Government: • -asks Govenor General to call elections, name judges/senators • -chooses and changes Cabinet members • -Privy Council Office- does research on any proposals to be made by Cabinet-advice should be impartial but jobs are appointed by PM • - Prime Ministers Office – gives advice to PM on political decisions – Principal Secretary runs PMO (+1000 workers) usually a close friend of PM

49. Prime Minister • -As a national leader: • -represents Canada international • -works with provincial premiers in order to coordinate and share responsibilities • -addresses Canadians on issues of national concern and explains goals of ruling party

50. Cabinet Ministers • –chosen by Prime Minister • -they are members of the ruling party who are given responsibility of a department or ministry • -receive advice from ministry to draw up new laws to send to parliament • - accepts responsibility for budget and actions of ministry