CANADIAN GOVERNMENT

CANADIAN CANADIAN GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT

THE HISTORY OF OUR SYSTEMTHE HISTORY OF OUR SYSTEM

BRITISH NORTH AMERICA BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACTACT

Mid-1800s there was a desire by the Mid-1800s there was a desire by the inhabitants of British North America to inhabitants of British North America to combine their forces and become a combine their forces and become a ConfederationConfederation of provinces in order to avoid of provinces in order to avoid being unprepared for a possible invasion by being unprepared for a possible invasion by Americans;Americans;

There was also an intention to end political There was also an intention to end political deadlock by the provincial leadership;deadlock by the provincial leadership;


The union would form a connection between The union would form a connection between Lower Canada (Ontario), Upper Canada Lower Canada (Ontario), Upper Canada (Quebec), New Brunswick and Nova Scotia;(Quebec), New Brunswick and Nova Scotia;

The government would follow the British The government would follow the British model – parliamentary democracy – with a model – parliamentary democracy – with a monarch (British King/Queen) at the head;monarch (British King/Queen) at the head;

It would also be a It would also be a federal systemfederal system with with provincialprovincial governments as well; governments as well;


The parliament would be The parliament would be bicameralbicameral (‘two (‘two chambers’) with the lower chamber filled with chambers’) with the lower chamber filled with elected officials (elected officials (House of CommonsHouse of Commons) and the ) and the upper chamber filled by appointment (upper chamber filled by appointment (House House of Lords of Lords or theor the Senate Senate););

The The 72 Resolutions72 Resolutions would become the would become the British British North America ActNorth America Act and would be passed by and would be passed by British law, signed by Queen Victoria on British law, signed by Queen Victoria on March 29, 1867; effective July 1, 1867;March 29, 1867; effective July 1, 1867;

GROWTH AND CHANGEGROWTH AND CHANGE

As the first Prime Minister of Canada, John A. As the first Prime Minister of Canada, John A. MacDonald had to make some changes in what the MacDonald had to make some changes in what the union meant for the country;union meant for the country;

There were There were per-capitaper-capita subsidiessubsidies made to the made to the provinces in order to make the Confederation a more provinces in order to make the Confederation a more acceptable notion (grants of money based on per acceptable notion (grants of money based on per person in the province);person in the province);

These grants connected the poorer provinces to the These grants connected the poorer provinces to the richer and made sure that they shared similar values;richer and made sure that they shared similar values;

GROWTH AND CHANGEGROWTH AND CHANGE

The other challenge was to make sure that the The other challenge was to make sure that the rest of BNA was not invaded by the rest of BNA was not invaded by the Americans;Americans;

This meant that the remainder of the This meant that the remainder of the geographic area between Ontario and British geographic area between Ontario and British Columbia had to be sufficiently developed;Columbia had to be sufficiently developed;

Individual provinces were established at Individual provinces were established at different times to accommodate the growing different times to accommodate the growing country;country;

ASSIGNMENT #1ASSIGNMENT #1

Using the textbook, answer the following Using the textbook, answer the following questions:questions: Pg. 19 #1-3Pg. 19 #1-3 Pg. 20 #1Pg. 20 #1 Pg. 22 #1-4Pg. 22 #1-4

STRUCTURE OF STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

The newly formed government of 1867 has to The newly formed government of 1867 has to ensure that it was effective and catered to the ensure that it was effective and catered to the needs of all its citizens;needs of all its citizens;

The challenges it faced includedThe challenges it faced included Meeting the needs of different regions and Meeting the needs of different regions and

cultures;cultures; As an expression of the majority, but protected the As an expression of the majority, but protected the

minority;minority; Had to be specific for the time but flexible to Had to be specific for the time but flexible to

changes for the future;changes for the future;

STRUCTURE OF STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

MacDonald decided it was best to have most MacDonald decided it was best to have most the power with the the power with the central government central government (federal)(federal) to avoid a potential civil war (as was to avoid a potential civil war (as was experienced by the U.S.);experienced by the U.S.);

Article 91Article 91 of the BNA Act allowed the central of the BNA Act allowed the central government to the hold many powers (government to the hold many powers (criminal criminal law, trade, defence, foreign affairs, taxing, law, trade, defence, foreign affairs, taxing, residual powersresidual powers) and the provinces would ) and the provinces would control (control (education, civil law and health careeducation, civil law and health care););

POWER SHIFTPOWER SHIFT

Canada and the United States have gone in Canada and the United States have gone in different directions regarding the power different directions regarding the power sharing between the central and the sharing between the central and the provincial/state governments;provincial/state governments;

There are a number of factors that have There are a number of factors that have affected this difference and help to explain the affected this difference and help to explain the subtle differences between the populations of subtle differences between the populations of the two countries;the two countries;

POWER SHIFTPOWER SHIFT In Canada:In Canada:

People demanding a more responsive government;People demanding a more responsive government; Strong provincial leaders can influence a weak central Strong provincial leaders can influence a weak central

leader;leader; 1867 BNA Act ensured provincial control over education, 1867 BNA Act ensured provincial control over education,

health care and welfare for the provinces;health care and welfare for the provinces; 1931 Constitutional Amendment gave the provinces 1931 Constitutional Amendment gave the provinces

control over natural resources;control over natural resources; Meech Lake Accord (1987) and the Charlottetown Accord Meech Lake Accord (1987) and the Charlottetown Accord

(1992) attempted to shift more power to the provinces; (1992) attempted to shift more power to the provinces; (both defeated)(both defeated)

CHANGING GOVERNMENT CHANGING GOVERNMENT SYSTEMSSYSTEMS

As society has become more As society has become more complex and has grown complex and has grown culturally, economically and culturally, economically and in population, the in population, the government has adjusted to government has adjusted to reflect new social concerns:reflect new social concerns:

Secret Ballot 1874Secret Ballot 1874 Department of Labour Department of Labour

(1900)(1900) External Affairs (1909)External Affairs (1909) Vote to Women (1918)Vote to Women (1918) Old-Age Pension (1926)Old-Age Pension (1926) Wheat Board (1930s)Wheat Board (1930s) Aboriginal Vote (1950s)Aboriginal Vote (1950s) Pension Income Supplement Pension Income Supplement

(1966)(1966) Medicare (1950s)Medicare (1950s)

PROVINCES AND PROVINCES AND TERRITORIESTERRITORIES

PROVINCE:PROVINCE: Exists in its own rights as a creation of the Exists in its own rights as a creation of the

Constitution Act 1867/1982;Constitution Act 1867/1982; Own provincial lands “in the Crown” in the Own provincial lands “in the Crown” in the

right of the province;right of the province; Provinces get a vote in the Constitutional Provinces get a vote in the Constitutional

amendments;amendments;


TERRITORY:TERRITORY: A creation through federal law;A creation through federal law; Crown (federal government) owns the lands in Crown (federal government) owns the lands in

the territory;the territory; Some provincial-like abilities relating to Some provincial-like abilities relating to

government (ie: education);government (ie: education); Not included in Constitutional amendments;Not included in Constitutional amendments;


NUNAVUT:NUNAVUT: Special circumstance among the territories;Special circumstance among the territories; Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA)

allowed the territorial government some allowed the territorial government some decision-making capacity in areas of decision-making capacity in areas of jurisdiction that the federal government jurisdiction that the federal government normally retains;normally retains;

CHANGING ROLE OF CHANGING ROLE OF GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

Major trends in the 20Major trends in the 20thth century can be century can be summarized into 3 topics:summarized into 3 topics: Canada achieving political separation from Great Canada achieving political separation from Great

Britain (1931& 1982) and controlling it’s own Britain (1931& 1982) and controlling it’s own future;future;

Provincial governments getting stronger and Provincial governments getting stronger and federal government getting weaker;federal government getting weaker;

Change in the role of government (becoming more Change in the role of government (becoming more complex in its duties);complex in its duties);

CHANGING ROLE OF CHANGING ROLE OF GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

In 1982 – Prime Minister P.E. Trudeau In 1982 – Prime Minister P.E. Trudeau re-patriatedre-patriated the Canadian Constitution (brought the control of the the Canadian Constitution (brought the control of the Constitution and Canadian lawmaking to the Constitution and Canadian lawmaking to the Canadian government);Canadian government);

The Constitution Act of 1982 was a combination of The Constitution Act of 1982 was a combination of the BNA Act 1867 and all other applicable statutes the BNA Act 1867 and all other applicable statutes passed since that time;passed since that time;

It was approved by British parliament and Queen It was approved by British parliament and Queen Elizabeth II on July 1, 1982;Elizabeth II on July 1, 1982;

ASSIGNMENT #2ASSIGNMENT #2

Using your textbook, answer the following Using your textbook, answer the following questions;questions;

Ensure that you provide the date, page Ensure that you provide the date, page numbers and question numbers;numbers and question numbers;

Pg. 25 #2Pg. 25 #2 Pg. 27 #1, 2Pg. 27 #1, 2 Pg. 30 #2, 3Pg. 30 #2, 3

SUBMISSIONSUBMISSION

At the end of the period, make sure you submit At the end of the period, make sure you submit the following assignments :the following assignments :

Questions from Assignments #1 and #2 (pages Questions from Assignments #1 and #2 (pages 19 – 30);19 – 30);

Handout on the Historic TimelineHandout on the Historic Timeline Handout on the Government PowersHandout on the Government Powers

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CANADIAN GOVERNMENT