Chapter 3

Federal Elections and Levels of Government

How Canadians vote, what happens after an election, and who does what at each level of government.

How federal elections work

Canadians vote for the people they want to represent them in the House of Commons. Members of the House of Commons are also known as members of Parliament, or MPs.
Under legislation passed by Parliament, federal elections must be held on the third Monday in October every four years following the most recent general election. The Prime Minister may ask the Governor General to call an earlier election.
Canada is divided into electoral districts, also known as ridings or constituencies. The citizens in each electoral district elect one MP to sit in the House of Commons.
The people in each electoral district vote for the candidate and political party of their choice, and the candidate who receives the most votes becomes the MP for that district.
Canadian citizens who are 18 years old or older may run in a federal election as candidates.

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You are eligible to vote in a federal election if you are a Canadian citizen, are at least 18 years old on voting day, and are on the voters’ list.
The voters’ lists are produced from the National Register of Electors by Elections Canada, a neutral agency of Parliament.
Once an election is called, Elections Canada mails a voter information card telling you when and where to vote. Even without one, you can be added to the voters’ list at any time, including on election day.
If you cannot or do not wish to vote on election day, you can vote at the advance polls or by special ballot. Bring your card and proof of identity and address to the polling station.

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Canadian law secures the right to a secret ballot: no one can watch you vote and no one should look at how you voted.
You may discuss how you voted if you choose to, but no one — not family members, your employer or a union representative — has the right to insist that you tell them.
Immediately after the polling stations close, election officers count the ballots and the results are announced publicly.

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Ordinarily the leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons is invited by the Governor General to form the government, and becomes the Prime Minister.
If the party in power holds at least half of the seats in the House of Commons, this is a majority government. If it holds less than half, it is a minority government.
A vote on a major issue such as the budget is a matter of confidence. If a majority of members vote against a major government decision, the party in power is defeated, which usually results in an election being called.
The Cabinet — the Prime Minister and the Cabinet ministers — makes important decisions, prepares the budget and proposes most new laws. Cabinet ministers run the federal government departments.
The parties not in power are the opposition parties, and the one with the most members is the Official Opposition. Their role is to peacefully oppose or try to improve government proposals.

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There are three levels of government: federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal (local). Each has its own elected officials.
Municipal governments usually have a council that passes laws called by-laws, affecting only the local community. The council usually includes a mayor (or a reeve) and councillors or aldermen.
Municipalities are normally responsible for planning, streets and roads, sanitation such as garbage removal, snow removal, firefighting, ambulance and other emergency services, recreation facilities and public transit.
First Nations have band chiefs and councillors with major responsibilities on reserves, including housing, schools and other services.
Provincial, territorial and municipal elections are also held by secret ballot, but the rules are not the same as those for federal elections.

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