Chapter 2

How Canadians Govern Themselves

A federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy — what each of those means, and who does what.

Three key facts about Canada’s system

Canada is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. These three facts together describe the system of government.

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Canada has federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments. The responsibilities of the federal and provincial governments were defined in 1867 in the British North America Act, now known as the Constitution Act, 1867.
The federal government handles matters of national and international concern: defence, foreign policy, interprovincial trade and communications, currency, navigation, criminal law and citizenship.
Municipal government, education, health, natural resources, property and civil rights, and highways all fall to the provinces.
Agriculture and immigration are shared responsibilities, handled by both the federal government and the provinces.
Every province has its own elected Legislative Assembly. The three northern territories have small populations and do not have the status of provinces, but their governments and assemblies carry out many of the same functions.

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Parliament has three parts: the Sovereign (King or Queen), the Senate and the House of Commons.
The representative chamber is the House of Commons, whose members of Parliament are elected by the people, traditionally once every four years.
A senator is appointed, not elected: the Governor General makes the appointment on the Prime Minister’s advice, and the senator serves until age 75.
No bill can become law until it has been passed by both chambers and has received royal assent, granted by the Governor General on behalf of the Sovereign.
Cabinet ministers must retain the confidence of the House and have to resign if they are defeated in a non-confidence vote.
Choosing the Cabinet ministers is the Prime Minister’s job, as is answering for how the government operates and what policy it follows.

Step	What happens
First Reading	First reading: the bill is formally introduced and printed.
Second Reading	Members debate the bill’s principle.
Committee Stage	Committee members study the bill clause by clause.
Report Stage	Members can make other amendments.
Third Reading	Members debate and vote on the bill.
Senate	The bill follows a similar process in the Senate.
Royal Assent	Royal assent comes last, once both Houses have passed the bill.

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Canada’s Head of State is a hereditary Sovereign, who reigns in accordance with the Constitution — that is, in accordance with the rule of law.
There is a clear distinction between the Head of State — the Sovereign — and the head of government, the Prime Minister, who actually directs the governing of the country.
The Sovereign is represented in Canada by the Governor General, appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister, usually for five years.
In each of the ten provinces the Sovereign is represented by the Lieutenant Governor, appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, also normally for five years. In the three territories, the Commissioner represents the federal government in a ceremonial role.
In each province the Premier has a role similar to that of the Prime Minister federally, just as the Lieutenant Governor has a role similar to that of the Governor General.

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The three branches of government are the Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial. They work together, and sometimes in creative tension, which helps secure the rights and freedoms of Canadians.
Members of provincial and territorial legislatures are called MLAs, MNAs, MPPs or MHAs, depending on the province or territory.
Citizens aged 18 or more are encouraged to take part in their democracy by voting in federal, provincial or territorial and municipal elections.

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