The Canadian Political System: A
Comparative Perspective
Study Canada Summer Institute in Ottawa/Montreal
July 3, 2012
Donald Alper
Department of Political Science
Center for Canadian-American Studies
Western Washington University
A Federal System
14 governments
(excluding First Nations)
1 federal
10 provincial
3 territorial
Characteristics of Federal System
• Highly decentralized
– provinces exert greater
power than states
-fewer; serve as regional
power centers
• French-English
‘accommodation’
– Quebec = French-speaking
homeland within Canada
A Closer Look at Pol Structure and
Provincial Influence
• In US—states have strong/equal rep
in national government via US Senate
• In Canada—no elected/ equal senate
to represent provincial interests
House of Commons is based on rep by pop-thus
huge inequality in provincial clout at national level
House of Commons
Representation by Province
Ontario
106
Québec
75
British Columbia
36
Alberta
28
Manitoba
14
Saskatechewan
14
Nova Scotia
11
New Brunswick
10
Nfld and Labrador
7
Prince Edward Island
4
Yukon
1
NWT
1
Nunavut
1
Total
308
}
}
181 = 60%
92 = 30%
Parliamentary v. Presidential-Congressional Systems:
Comparative Framework
United States - Separation of powers
Canada - Fusion of Powers
Role of Legislative Bodies
Canadian Parliament
(Commons and Senate)
US Congress
(House and Senate)
•
•
House and Senate roughly equal in power
and influence
Strong, independent powers to legislate
•
•
•
•
United States - Separation of powers
House of Commons focus of power; carries
out will of majority party
Unelected senate, mostly advisory
Opposition principle built into House of
Commons
Question Period
Canada - Fusion of Powers
Government and Opposition
Note the “face-off”
architecture of The House
of Commons
Question Period: A Unique
Parliamentary Institution
Have students simulate
question period.
Assign roles such as
PM, Leaders of
Opposition parties,
cabinet ministers, etc.
See: Model Parliamentary Unit
Teaching File
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/education/mpu/index_e.asp
Majority & Minority Governments
A Minority Government 2008
A Majority Government 2011
Party
Seats
Popular
Vote
Party
Seats
Popular
Vote
Conservative
143
38%
Conservative
166
40%
Liberal
77
26%
New Democratic Party
103
31%
Bloc Québécois
49
10%
Liberal
34
19%
New Democratic Party
37
18%
Bloc Québécois
4
6%
Green Party
0
7%
Green Party
1
4%
Independent/Other
2
1%
Independent/Other
0
1%
TOTAL
308
TOTAL
308
Have the students work out the numbers and likely partners in a
possible coalition government
Political Parties & Leaders
Thank You