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.
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.
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