History and Government History and Government of Canadaof Canada

For use with Text pgs. 55-58, 60-61, 152-155

Canada Today Canada Today (Text p. 55-58 & 60-61)(Text p. 55-58 & 60-61)

Canada was originally populated by Canada was originally populated by nomads nomads who who migrated across migrated across BeringiaBeringia, or who crossed the , or who crossed the North Atlantic during the last ice age.North Atlantic during the last ice age.

• In Canada, their descendants, those who we In Canada, their descendants, those who we in the U.S. call Native Americans, are in the U.S. call Native Americans, are referred to as referred to as First NationsFirst Nations..

The first Europeans on the scene in Canada were the The first Europeans on the scene in Canada were the VikingsVikings..

Wait… not those Vikings!Wait… not those Vikings!

These Vikings! The ones from Scandinavia!

Erik the RedErik the Red landed in Greenland around landed in Greenland around 980 AD980 AD and then his son, and then his son, Leif EricsonLeif Ericson, founded a colony , founded a colony in Newfoundland about 1000.in Newfoundland about 1000.

LeifLeif

Evidence of Vikings in Canada: L'Anse aux Meadows – Evidence of Vikings in Canada: L'Anse aux Meadows – NewfoundlandNewfoundland, Canada, Canada

Viking village housed between 80 to 100 individuals, Viking village housed between 80 to 100 individuals, probably up to three ship crews. It appears that the probably up to three ship crews. It appears that the settlement was probably abandoned after a few years due settlement was probably abandoned after a few years due to bad relations with the native people in the area.to bad relations with the native people in the area.

It wasn’t until nearly 500 years later that It wasn’t until nearly 500 years later that Europeans set foot on Canadian soil again.Europeans set foot on Canadian soil again.

• In In 14971497, Italian explorer , Italian explorer John CabotJohn Cabot (Giovanni (Giovanni Caboto) arrived in Newfoundland after being Caboto) arrived in Newfoundland after being commissioned by King Henry VII of England. commissioned by King Henry VII of England.

Henry Hudson (1565-1611)Henry Hudson (1565-1611) English explorer and navigator - English explorer and navigator -

explored parts of the explored parts of the Arctic Arctic OceanOcean and northeastern and northeastern North North AmericaAmerica. The Hudson River, . The Hudson River, Hudson Strait, and Hudson Bay Hudson Strait, and Hudson Bay are named for him. are named for him.

Hired by the Dutch East India Hired by the Dutch East India Company in 1609, to try to find Company in 1609, to try to find the the Northwest PassageNorthwest Passage..

A 1610-1611 trip through the A 1610-1611 trip through the Hudson Strait and into Hudson Hudson Strait and into Hudson Bay ended in a Bay ended in a mutinymutiny. Hudson . Hudson died after his crew mutinied died after his crew mutinied and left Hudson, his son, and and left Hudson, his son, and seven crew members adrift in a seven crew members adrift in a small, open boat in Hudson Bay. small, open boat in Hudson Bay.

• France colonized around the France colonized around the St. St. Lawrence Lawrence Seaway and down the Seaway and down the Mississippi RiverMississippi River while the English while the English stayed on the stayed on the AtlanticAtlantic seaboard of the seaboard of the now-U.S. and also around now-U.S. and also around Hudson BayHudson Bay..

• They both engaged in extensive They both engaged in extensive fishingfishing and and fur trappingfur trapping..

• French traders and missionaries tended French traders and missionaries tended to to adaptadapt to the ways of the native to the ways of the native people and had few people and had few conflictsconflicts. French . French influence is still quite evident in influence is still quite evident in Canada today (especially in Quebec).Canada today (especially in Quebec).

By the 1500’s and 1600’s, both England and France By the 1500’s and 1600’s, both England and France had begun colonizing parts of eastern Canada. In had begun colonizing parts of eastern Canada. In addition to land, they were interested in the addition to land, they were interested in the lucrative lucrative fur tradefur trade..

French Voyageur

French and British interests started conflicting, French and British interests started conflicting, resulting in the resulting in the French and Indian WarFrench and Indian War..

The war was between the The war was between the BritishBritish and the and the French and their Indian alliesFrench and their Indian allies. The . The Quebecois call the conflict the Quebecois call the conflict the Intercolonial Intercolonial WarsWars..

At the same time, mirrored wars (The 7 At the same time, mirrored wars (The 7 Years War) were also going on in Europe. Years War) were also going on in Europe.

When the French and Indian War was over, When the French and Indian War was over, France ceded (gave up) to Britain all of itsFrance ceded (gave up) to Britain all of its Canadian territoryCanadian territory and its now-U.S. territory and its now-U.S. territory east of the Mississippieast of the Mississippi..

The problem, though, was that French settlers The problem, though, was that French settlers stuck around.stuck around.

• The French were The French were CatholicCatholic, while the English , while the English were were ProtestantProtestant. In addition, most of them . In addition, most of them had just warred against each other. This had just warred against each other. This blend of cultures didn’t blend well at all.blend of cultures didn’t blend well at all.

• As a result, in As a result, in 17911791, Canada was split into two , Canada was split into two provinces: provinces: UpperUpper and and LowerLower Canada. This Canada. This division lasted about division lasted about 50 50 years.years.

Lower Canada was Lower Canada was FrenchFrench and Upper Canada was and Upper Canada was EnglishEnglish. Notice that Lower Canada is actually . Notice that Lower Canada is actually further further northnorth. “Upper” Canada referred to its . “Upper” Canada referred to its

location closer to the location closer to the headwatersheadwaters of the of the St. St. Lawrence RiverLawrence River..

By By 18671867, the Dominion of Canada was created. , the Dominion of Canada was created. It was a loose confederation of It was a loose confederation of provincesprovinces (a (a federal structure).federal structure).

• It consisted of It consisted of OntarioOntario (formerly Upper (formerly Upper Canada), Canada), QuebecQuebec (formerly Lower Canada), (formerly Lower Canada), and and Nova ScotiaNova Scotia and and New BrunswickNew Brunswick..

The Dominion quickly added more territories and provinces.For example, British Columbia was added in 1871, giving Canada a Pacific coast province.

Canada today has Canada today has 1313 Provinces and Territories Provinces and Territories stretching from the stretching from the AtlanticAtlantic to the to the PacificPacific..

Canadian GovernmentCanadian Government

Political change in Canada has Political change in Canada has been the result of been the result of gradual gradual evolutionevolution rather than rather than sudden sudden revolutionary upheavalrevolutionary upheaval, as , as occurred in the US.occurred in the US.

Text p. 152-155

• In 1867 the In 1867 the British North America ActBritish North America Act gave Canadians limited control of their gave Canadians limited control of their own government. own government. (Canada Day celebrates this event (Canada Day celebrates this event every July 1st.)every July 1st.)

• Great Britain retained Great Britain retained legislativelegislative control over Canada. Canada’s control over Canada. Canada’s constitutionconstitution could not be changed could not be changed without permission from Great without permission from Great Britain’s Britain’s parliamentparliament..

• In 1982, with the passage of the In 1982, with the passage of the Canada Canada ActAct, Canada adopted a new constitution , Canada adopted a new constitution and finally gained and finally gained COMPLETE COMPLETE independenceindependence from Great Britain. from Great Britain.

Canadian GovernmentCanadian Government

CANADACANADA Today Canada is Today Canada is

independent of Great independent of Great Britain and has a Britain and has a parliamentary systemparliamentary system of of government.government.

It is considered a It is considered a constitutional constitutional monarchymonarchy, , a parliamentary a parliamentary democracydemocracy, a Federation , a Federation or “or “UnionUnion”, and a ”, and a representativerepresentative democracy.democracy.

Canada’s government has Canada’s government has three levels: three levels: FederalFederal, , ProvincialProvincial or Territorial, or Territorial, and and MunicipalMunicipal (local) (local)

Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien

and Queen Elizabeth II. (1997)

CANADA’S SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT CANADA’S SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT No No separation of powersseparation of powers in Canada’s system of in Canada’s system of

government. government. No No sharp divisionsharp division between the between the executiveexecutive and and

legislativelegislative branches. The Prime Minister and Cabinet branches. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are members of the House of Commons.are members of the House of Commons.

Only members of the Only members of the House of CommonsHouse of Commons are elected. are elected.

Canada’s Government: Legislative Branch

Consists of two houses (Consists of two houses (bicameralbicameral):):• The House of Commons (lower house)The House of Commons (lower house)

Elected Elected by the people. There must be a new by the people. There must be a new election within election within 5 years5 years of the last one. of the last one.

This is the This is the dominant dominant chamber of parliament. chamber of parliament. Most Most billsbills originate here, and most originate here, and most significant significant decisions decisions are made here.are made here.

• Senate (upper house)Senate (upper house) AppointedAppointed by the governor-general (But by the governor-general (But

really the Prime Minister tells him who to really the Prime Minister tells him who to appoint). Senators may serve until age 75.appoint). Senators may serve until age 75.

Both housesBoth houses must approve legislation, but must approve legislation, but the Senate rarely rejects bills passed by the Senate rarely rejects bills passed by the House of Commons.the House of Commons.

• There are multiple There are multiple political partiespolitical parties represented represented in parliament. Whichever political party in parliament. Whichever political party manages to gain a manages to gain a majoritymajority in the House of in the House of Commons becomes the Commons becomes the governinggoverning party and party and chooses somebody to be the chooses somebody to be the Prime MinisterPrime Minister..

• Sometimes parties may join forces in order Sometimes parties may join forces in order to gain a majority. to gain a majority.

Ottawa is Canada’s National Capital

Parliament Building

Canada’s Government: Executive Branch The The Governor GeneralGovernor General

is a Canadian citizen, is a Canadian citizen, appointed by the appointed by the monarch. (has limited monarch. (has limited political powerpolitical power))

Canada’s real head of Canada’s real head of government is the government is the prime ministerprime minister. . • Prime Minister – Prime Minister –

selected by the selected by the House of House of CommonsCommons’ majority ’ majority political partypolitical party

• Cabinet Cabinet (similar to (similar to US Cabinet) and US Cabinet) and administrative administrative departments. departments.

The British monarch, The British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, is still Queen Elizabeth II, is still the symbolic head of state. the symbolic head of state. (2007)(2007)

Prime Minister, Stephen Harper (2010)

Canada’s Government: Judicial Branch

Similar to US court system Similar to US court system - a hierarchy with - a hierarchy with DistrictDistrict Courts, then Courts of Courts, then Courts of AppealsAppeals, and at the top the , and at the top the SupremeSupreme Court. Court.

Supreme CourtSupreme Court justices are justices are appointed by the appointed by the governor-general under governor-general under the “advice and consent” the “advice and consent” of the Prime Minister and of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.Cabinet.

The Supreme Court has the The Supreme Court has the ultimate power of ultimate power of judicial judicial reviewreview over Canadian over Canadian federal and provincial federal and provincial laws. (They decide if laws laws. (They decide if laws are are constitutionalconstitutional.).)

(All judges are appointed.)

Commonwealth of Nations

Canada is part of the Commonwealth of Nations

This is a voluntary international political organization of fifty-four independent member states, all but two of which were former British colonies.

These nations consult and cooperate with each other in matters of trade and economics.

Queen Elizabeth II is the symbolic head.

Comparing Canadian and Comparing Canadian and US Systems of GovernmentUS Systems of Government

Elected

Appointed

Note: In the U.S. most state judges are elected.

O Canada!Our home and native land!True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.