Canadian GovernmentCanadian Government

The structure of our governmentThe structure of our government

The StructureThe Structure

The QueenThe Queen

Leads the executive branch of the gov’tLeads the executive branch of the gov’t Technically makes and applies government Technically makes and applies government

decisionsdecisions Essentially a figure headEssentially a figure head

Governor GeneralGovernor General

David Lloyd JohnstonDavid Lloyd Johnston Appointed by the Queen, recommended by the Appointed by the Queen, recommended by the

Prime MinisterPrime Minister The Queen’s representative in CanadaThe Queen’s representative in Canada Works on the advice of the PM, most of the Works on the advice of the PM, most of the

timetime The GG calls elections, usually on the advice The GG calls elections, usually on the advice

of the PMof the PM Position held for 5 yearsPosition held for 5 years

Prime MinisterPrime Minister

Stephen Harper, Conservative Party of CanadaStephen Harper, Conservative Party of Canada ElectedElected Voice of the nation and head of the gov’tVoice of the nation and head of the gov’t Leader of the cabinetLeader of the cabinet Has the power to appoint cabinet, federal Has the power to appoint cabinet, federal

boards, Crown corps, and other gov’t agenciesboards, Crown corps, and other gov’t agencies Approves candidatesApproves candidates

CabinetCabinet

Appointed by the PM, chosen from elected Appointed by the PM, chosen from elected Members of ParliamentMembers of Parliament

Size varies, can be changed whenever the PM Size varies, can be changed whenever the PM feels like it but is approx. 30 membersfeels like it but is approx. 30 members

Each MP has a portfolio or ministry that they Each MP has a portfolio or ministry that they are responsible forare responsible for

Recommends laws to the House of CommonsRecommends laws to the House of Commons Creates gov’t policyCreates gov’t policy

Right Hon. Stephen Harper Prime Minister Right Hon. Stephen Harper Prime Minister Hon. Bernard Valcourt Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Hon. Bernard Valcourt Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Hon. Rob Nicholson Minister of National Defence Hon. Rob Nicholson Minister of National Defence Hon. Peter MacKay Minister of Justice Attorney General of Canada Hon. Peter MacKay Minister of Justice Attorney General of Canada Hon. Rona Ambrose Minister of Health Hon. Rona Ambrose Minister of Health Hon. Diane Finley Minister of Public Works and Government Services Hon. Diane Finley Minister of Public Works and Government Services Hon. John Baird Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. John Baird Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Tony Clement President of the Treasury Board Hon. Tony Clement President of the Treasury Board Hon. Jim Flaherty Minister of Finance Hon. Jim Flaherty Minister of Finance Hon. Peter Van Loan Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Hon. Peter Van Loan Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Hon. Jason Kenney Minister of Employment and Social Development Minister for Hon. Jason Kenney Minister of Employment and Social Development Minister for

Multiculturalism Multiculturalism Hon. Gerry Ritz Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Hon. Gerry Ritz Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Hon. Christian Paradis Minister of International Development Minister for La Francophonie Hon. Christian Paradis Minister of International Development Minister for La Francophonie Hon. James MooreMinister of Industry Hon. James MooreMinister of Industry Hon. Denis Lebel Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions Hon. Denis Lebel Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions

of Quebec; President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada; Minister of Infrastructure, of Quebec; President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada; Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs

Hon. Leona AglukkaqMinister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency ; Hon. Leona AglukkaqMinister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency ; Minister for the Arctic Council; Minister of the Environment Minister for the Arctic Council; Minister of the Environment

Hon. Lisa Raitt Minister of Transport Hon. Lisa Raitt Minister of Transport Hon. Gail Shea Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Hon. Gail Shea Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

Hon. Julian Fantino Minister of Veterans Affairs Hon. Julian Fantino Minister of Veterans Affairs Hon. Steven Blaney Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Hon. Steven Blaney Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Hon. Ed Fast Minister of International Trade Hon. Ed Fast Minister of International Trade Hon. Joe Oliver Minister of Natural Resources Hon. Joe Oliver Minister of Natural Resources Hon. Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay Minister of National Revenue Hon. Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay Minister of National Revenue Hon. Shelly Glover Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Hon. Shelly Glover Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Hon. Chris Alexander Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Hon. Chris Alexander Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Hon. Kellie Leitch Minister of Labour; Minister of Status of Women Hon. Kellie Leitch Minister of Labour; Minister of Status of Women Hon. Maxime Bernier; Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism, and Agriculture) Hon. Maxime Bernier; Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism, and Agriculture) Hon. Lynne Yelich; Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular) Hon. Lynne Yelich; Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular) Hon. Gary Goodyear; Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Hon. Gary Goodyear; Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern

Ontario)Ontario) Hon. Rob Moore; Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) Hon. Rob Moore; Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) Hon. John Duncan; Minister of State Hon. John Duncan; Minister of State Hon. Tim Uppal; Minister of State (Multiculturalism) Hon. Tim Uppal; Minister of State (Multiculturalism) Hon. Alice Wong; Minister of State (Seniors) Hon. Alice Wong; Minister of State (Seniors) Hon. Bal Gosal; Minister of State (Sport) Hon. Bal Gosal; Minister of State (Sport) Hon. Kevin Sorenson; Minister of State (Finance) Hon. Kevin Sorenson; Minister of State (Finance) Hon. Pierre Poilievre; Minister of State (Democratic Reform) Hon. Pierre Poilievre; Minister of State (Democratic Reform) Hon. Candice Bergen; Minister of State (Social Development) Hon. Candice Bergen; Minister of State (Social Development) Hon. Greg Rickford; Minister of State (Science and Technology, and Federal Economic Hon. Greg Rickford; Minister of State (Science and Technology, and Federal Economic

Development Initiative for Northern Ontario) Development Initiative for Northern Ontario) Hon. Michelle Rempel; Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification)Hon. Michelle Rempel; Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification)

Prime Minister’s OfficePrime Minister’s Office

Serves the PM as leader of the partyServes the PM as leader of the party Politically appointed staff, not electedPolitically appointed staff, not elected Organize and schedule the PMOrganize and schedule the PM Run opinion pollsRun opinion polls Create a positive image of the PMCreate a positive image of the PM Offer political adviceOffer political advice

Privy Council OfficePrivy Council Office

Headed by a civil servant, not elected – Clerk Headed by a civil servant, not elected – Clerk of the Privy Councilof the Privy Council

PM’s department of governmentPM’s department of government Serve PM as leader of the gov’tServe PM as leader of the gov’t Ensures all info is at Cabinet meetingsEnsures all info is at Cabinet meetings Unlimited access to PMUnlimited access to PM Deals with Cabinet ministersDeals with Cabinet ministers

MinistriesMinistries

Public servicePublic service Work for the government but not electedWork for the government but not elected

Additional TermsAdditional Terms

Private members bill – a non cabinet MP Private members bill – a non cabinet MP proposes a bill in HOCproposes a bill in HOC

Shadow Cabinet – critics to cabinetShadow Cabinet – critics to cabinet Official Opposition – the party that makes up Official Opposition – the party that makes up

the second largest number of seats in the HOC, the second largest number of seats in the HOC, currently the NDPcurrently the NDP

Backbenchers – not in the cabinet or shadow Backbenchers – not in the cabinet or shadow cabinetcabinet

Legislative BranchLegislative Branch Make and amend lawsMake and amend laws Determines how the gov’t spends our taxesDetermines how the gov’t spends our taxes

ParliamentParliament

PM is the head of parliamentPM is the head of parliament Sits in session from September to JuneSits in session from September to June If the HOC rejects a cabinet recommendation If the HOC rejects a cabinet recommendation

the PM and cabinet resign – vote of non-the PM and cabinet resign – vote of non-confidenceconfidence

House of CommonsHouse of Commons

Members of Parliament, MP’s, are electedMembers of Parliament, MP’s, are elected 5 year term5 year term Voted in federal ridings across the countryVoted in federal ridings across the country The speaker of the House is elected by MPsThe speaker of the House is elected by MPs No money is spent in government without No money is spent in government without

HOC approvalHOC approval Represent CanadiansRepresent Canadians

SenateSenate

Appointed by GG on recommendation of PMAppointed by GG on recommendation of PM Reviews and approves HOC legislation, Reviews and approves HOC legislation,

becomes lawbecomes law 105 members representing provinces and 105 members representing provinces and

territoriesterritories http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Senate/Education

alVideo/SenFilmToc-e.asp Senators hold their seat for lifeSenators hold their seat for life

Judicial BranchJudicial Branch

Supreme Court, Federal Court and Tax CourtSupreme Court, Federal Court and Tax Court Judges, serve justice, independent, Judges, serve justice, independent, constitutional, criminal and civil lawconstitutional, criminal and civil law