GOVERNMENT IN CANADA

 

1)         CANADA IS A “FEDERATION,”WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

THE FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT MEANS THAT POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE 10 CANADIAN PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS. CANADA ALSO HAS THREE TERRITORIES IN THE FAR NORTH ==è {YUKON [WHITEHORSE], NORTHWEST TERRITORIES [YELLOWKNIFE], AND NUNAVUT [IQALUIT].

IN CANADA, THE TERM CONFEDERATION REFERS TO THE UNION OF THE THREE BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NOVA SCOTIA AND CANADA TO BECOME THE DOMINION OF CANADA ON JULY 1, 1867. THE THREE COLONIES WERE MADE INTO THE FOUR PROVINCES OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NOVA SCOTIA, ONTARIO AND QUEBEC. THE OTHER PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES ENTERED CONFEDERATION LATER.

2)         WHAT ARE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS RESPONSIBILITIES?

IN GENERAL, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MATTERS THAT AFFECT ALL OF CANADA. ==è UNDER THE CONSTITUTION ACT OF 1867, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NATIONAL DEFENCE, CRIMINAL LAW, BANKING, THE POSTAL SYSTEM AND FOREIGN RELATIONS ===è (IT IS ALSO INVOLVED IN MANY OTHER AREAS OF(SHARED RESPONSIBILITY) INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATIONS, IMMIGRATION, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.

3)         WHAT ARE THE PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES RESPONSIBILITIES?

PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENTS ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR CIVIL JUSTICE, PROPERTY AND MUNICIPAL INSTITUTIONS MATTERS AS EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND HIGHWAYS. THEY SHARE RESPONSIBILITIES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN SOME AREAS, SUCH AS PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT.

.THEY ALSO SHARE RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR SUCH MATTERS AS HEALTH SERVICES, AGRICULTURE, IMMIGRATION, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

{{THERE IS ALSO A THIRD LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL. THIS LEVEL, KNOWN AS MUNICIPAL (OR LOCAL) GOVERNMENT, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LOCAL MATTERS SUCH AS POLICING, FIREFIGHTING, SNOW REMOVAL AND RECYCLING PROGRAMS.

4)         CANADA HAS A SYSTEM OF PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

THE PARLIAMENT HAS THREE PARTS: THE QUEEN, THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND THE SENATE. CANADA’S PARLIAMENT IS LOCATED IN OTTAWA, OUR NATIONAL CAPITAL.

HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II IS CANADA’S OFFICIAL HEAD OF STATE. SHE IS REPRESENTED IN CANADA BY THE GOVERNOR GENERAL, WHO MUST SIGN ALL FEDERAL LAWS. THIS IS WHAT MAKES CANADA A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY ====> HER EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MICHAËLLE JEAN

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IS THE NATIONAL LEGISLATURE ELECTED BY CANADIAN CITIZENS. IT IS MADE UP OF 308 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, OR MPS. MPS USUALLY REPRESENT A POLITICAL PARTY, ALTHOUGH SOME MEMBERS DO SIT AS INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ====> HOUSE ALONE IS CONSTITUTIONALLY AUTHORIZED TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION CONCERNED WITH THE RAISING OR SPENDING OF FUNDS.

THE SENATE IS THE UPPER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT. MEMBERS OF THE SENATE ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR GENERAL UPON RECOMMENDATION BY THE PRIME MINISTER ===> CONSISTING ORDINARILY OF 105 SENATORS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR GENERAL ON THE ADVICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER. THE SENATE POSSESSES ALL OF THE POWERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS EXCEPT THAT OF INITIATING FINANCIAL LEGISLATION.

WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS, ALL LAWS MUST BE APPROVED BY THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, THE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR GENERAL BEFORE THEY BECOME LAW. MOST PARLIAMENTARY LEGISLATION IS INTRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

 

5)         HOW IS A GOVERNMENT FORMED?

THE POLITICAL PARTY WITH THE MOST MEMBERS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS TAKES THE LEADING ROLE IN FORMING A GOVERNMENT. IF IT HAS A MAJORITY OF SEATS (155 OR MORE), THEN IT FORMS A MAJORITY GOVERNMENT. IF IT HAS FEWER THAN 155 SEATS, THE LEADING PARTY WILL SEEK THE COOPERATION OF OTHER PARTIES, AND FORM A MINORITY GOVERNMENT. THE LEADER OF THE PARTY THAT FORMS THE GOVERNMENT BECOMES THE PRIME MINISTER. THE PARTY WITH THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF SEATS BECOMES THE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION. ITS LEADER BECOMES THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION. IN THE FEDERAL ELECTION OF JUNE 28, 2004, NO PARTY WON A MAJORITY OF THE SEATS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. CANADA IS CURRENTLY RULED BY A MINORITY GOVERNMENT.

THE PRIME MINISTER CHOOSES A CABINET FROM MEMBERS OF THE LEADING PARTY IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE CABINET MUST MAINTAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. THIS IS KNOWN AS “RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT.”

EACH CABINET MINISTER HAS A SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITY. MOST MINISTERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATION OF ONE OR MORE FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS OR AGENCIES. THE TOP OFFICIAL IN EACH DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY IS A DEPUTY MINISTER. DEPUTY MINISTERS ARE USUALLY CAREER PUBLIC SERVANTS. THEY ARE APPOINTED BY THE PRIME MINISTER.

 

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS

GOVERNMENTS ARE FORMED IN THE PROVINCES IN MUCH THE SAME WAY AS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. THE PARTY WITH THE GREATEST NUMBER OF SEATS IN THE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE FORMS THE GOVERNMENT. THE LEADER OF THIS PARTY BECOMES THE PREMIER OF THE PROVINCE, WHO APPOINTS A CABINET FROM THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE LEADING PARTY. MAJORITY AND MINORITY GOVERNMENTS ARE POSSIBLE AT THE PROVINCIAL LEVEL.

PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURES DO NOT HAVE AN UPPER HOUSE. IN ORDER FOR PROVINCIAL LEGISLATION TO BECOME LAW, IT MUST BE APPROVED BY THE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE AND THE QUEEN’S PROVINCIAL REPRESENTATIVE, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

 

 

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES

1)         GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY (ACCOUNTABILITY ACTION PLAN WILL CHANGE THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT BY STRENGTHENING THE RULES AND INSTITUTIONS THAT ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO CANADIANS)

2)         REDUCING TAX BURDEN (GST – HELPING ORDINARY WORKING CANADIANS AND THEIR FAMILIES).

3)         TACKLING CRIME (CRIMINAL CODE CHANGES TO PROVIDE TOUGHER SENTENCES FOR VIOLENT AND REPEAT OFFENDERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE INVOLVED IN WEAPONS-RELATED CRIMES. IT WILL HELP PREVENT CRIME BY PUTTING MORE POLICE ON THE STREET AND IMPROVING THE SECURITY OF OUR BORDERS).

4)         PROVIDING CHILD CARE CHOICE AND SUPPORT (HELP CANADIAN PARENTS, AS THEY SEEK TO BALANCE WORK AND FAMILY LIFE, BY SUPPORTING THEIR CHILD CARE CHOICES THROUGH DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT)

5)         ENSURING CANADIANS GET THE HEALTH CARE THEY HAVE PAID FOR (A PATIENT WAIT TIMES GUARANTEE FOR MEDICALLY NECESSARY SERVICES – TIMELY AND SUSTAINABLE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM)

6.      ENSURING DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND MULTICULTURAL WORLDVIEW (SENATE REFORM [REFLECTING DEMOCRATIC VALUES] – HARNESSING THE DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE FOUND WITHIN OUR FEDERATION, WE CAN PRESENT A STRONG, UNITED AND CONFIDENT VOICE TO THE WORLD [REFLECTING MULTICULTURAL WORLDVIEW] – A CANADA THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US.

{EX: HARNESSING DIVERSITY ==è  EMBRACING CHANGE IN THE FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE - TASK FORCE ON THE PARTICIPATION OF VISIBLE MINORITIES IN THE FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE” =====> ACTION PLAN

1)         SHARE THE EXPERIENCE AND APPROACHES OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND OF FEDERALLY REGULATED AND PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS. INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS TO ADAPT SUCH EXPERIENCES AND APPROACHES TO THEIR CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS

2)         EDUCATE MANAGERS ABOUT:

A)    HUMAN RESOURCES POLICY AND PRACTICES AND, WITHIN THAT CONTEXT, EMPLOYMENT EQUITY POLICY AND PRACTICES;

B)     LABOUR MARKETS AND EQUIP THEM TO DO LABOUR MARKET ANALYSIS;

C)    THE EXISTING ARRAY OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TOOLS FOR TARGETED RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT.

3)         WIDEN THE APPLICANT POOL BY:

A)                EXPANDING THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF SELECTION TO REACH LARGER RECRUITMENT POOLS;

B)                 MAKING USE OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION INVENTORIES OF VISIBLE MINORITY APPLICANTS;

C)                MAKING FINANCIAL PROVISION TO ASSIST MANAGERS TO MEET INCREASED RELOCATION COSTS.

4)         ENSURE QUALIFIED VISIBLE MINORITY APPLICANTS ARE REFERRED RATHER THAN SCREENED OUT:

A)                REVIEW THE CRITERIA FOR SELECTED POSITIONS;

B)                 HIRE FOR COMPETENCIES, INCLUDING NEW COMPETENCIES, RATHER THAN FOR POSITION ALONE.

5)         ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE SELECTION PROCESS:

A)    ESTABLISH CORPORATE INVENTORIES OF VISIBLE MINORITIES AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION BOARD DUTIES; THOSE INVENTORIES TO INCLUDE MEMBERS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR;

B)     PROVIDE TRAINING FOR VISIBLE MINORITIES WITHIN THE PUBLIC SERVICE FOR SELECTION BOARD DUTIES.

6)         USE INNOVATIVE RECRUITMENT AND OUTREACH APPROACHES:

A)    ESTABLISH CORPORATE INVENTORIES OF VISIBLE MINORITY EMPLOYEES WHO COULD PARTICIPATE IN RECRUITMENT DRIVES AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES;

B)     ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS OR WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN RECRUITMENT AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.

{{{ON COMPENTENCIES ===> THE TASK FORCE NOTED EXAMPLES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHERE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER IS CHAMPIONING DIVERSITY. SOME HEAD A CORPORATE COMMITTEE ON DIVERSITY. OTHERS PERSONALLY PICK UP THE TELEPHONE TO CALL A POTENTIAL UNIVERSITY RECRUIT. THE TASK FORCE URGES DEPUTY HEADS TO REFLECT ON THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP: IS THERE A VISIBLE MINORITY PRESENCE ON THEIR SENIOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES?

SEVERAL PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES HAVE ESTABLISHED A LEADERSHIP COMPETENCY RELATED TO DIVERSITY. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD TRAIN MANAGERS SO THAT THEY ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE AND DEVELOP SKILLS ASSOCIATED WITH MANAGING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT MANAGERS IN THIS RESPECT.}}}

 

 

SELECTED WEBSITE LINKS

 

Fact sheet on Canadian Government

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomer/fact_06e.html

Levels of Government in Canada

http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/process/levels_government.html

About Government

http://canada.gc.ca/howgoc/howind_e.html

How Canadians Govern Themselves

http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/idb/forsey/PDFs/How_Canadians_Govern_Themselves-6ed.pdf

Change in the Ontario State: 1952 – 2002

http://www.law-lib.utoronto.ca/investing/reports/rp8.pdf