MLA DAY
October 2012
Government in Canada
• Canada is a federal state and parliamentary
democracy.
• A federal state brings together a number of different
political communities with a general government
(federal) for general purposes and separate local
governments (provincial) for the local purposes.
• In Canada’s parliamentary democracy, the people
elect members to the federal parliament and to the
provincial/territorial legislatures.
• Canada has three levels of government: federal,
provincial and municipal
Federal
• The elected representative at the federal level is
called a Member of Parliament (MP)
• The federal legislative body has 308 elected MPs
• MPs debate and pass laws in the House of Commons
in Ottawa (Parliament Hill)
• The leader of the government is called the Prime
Minister
Provincial
• The elected representative at the provincial level is
called a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)
• The legislative body in Alberta has 87 elected MLAs
• In Alberta, MLAs debate and pass laws in the
Legislative Assembly of Alberta in Edmonton
• The leader of the government is called the Premier
Municipal
• The elected representative at the municipal level is
called a councillor or alderman
• The size of the council differs from city to town
• Councillors debate and pass legislation in the council
chambers (city hall/municipal office)
• The leader of the government is called a mayor or
reeve
Section 91-95, Constitution
• In choosing a federal form of government, the
Fathers of Confederation assigned particular
responsibilities to the different levels of
government (Sections 91–95, Constitution Act).
• The division of powers is based on the principle
of subsidiarity (the government closest to the
issue governs it).
Division of Responsibilities
• Federal: Defence, trade, foreign policy, money,
health and safety, immigration and citizenship
• Provincial: Health care/hospitals, education, welfare,
transportation within the province, justice and the
cities within its borders, energy and the environment
• Municipal: Waste management, water and sewer,
policing and protection, cultural facilities and libraries
Government Ministries
• High schools have departments and each in charge of
one specific subject area (e.g., Science Department,
Math Department, History Department)
• Similarly, in the Alberta government, there are
departments called ministries (Ministry of Health,
Ministry of Education) and each is in charge of one or
more of the government’s responsibilities
• The premier appoints an MLA to head each Ministry
of the Executive Council (Cabinet).
• Each minister is in charge of one of the provincial
responsibilities and acts as an advisor to the premier
and the Legislature in their area of expertise.
Alberta Government Ministries
Aboriginal Relations, Agriculture and Rural
Development, Culture, Education, Energy, Enterprise
and Advanced Education, Environment and Sustainable
Resource Development, Health, Human Services,
Infrastructure, International & Intergovernmental
Relations, Justice and Solicitor General, Municipal
Affairs, Service Alberta,Tourism, Parks and Recreation,
Transportation, Treasury Board and Finance
The Electoral Process
• An electoral division is a geographical area
represented by an elected representative. Also
known as an electoral district, riding or constituency.
• An electoral system is the way citizens’ choices,
expressed as votes, are translated into legislative
seats. Or the way candidates are selected to become
elected representatives.
• Alberta uses a system called Single-Member Plurality
or First-Past-The-Post. The candidate with the most
votes wins.
The Role of an MLA
• When the Legislature is sitting, MLAs are responsible
for proposing, studying, debating, and voting on bills
(potential laws) and raising issues that concern their
constituents.
• When the Legislature is not sitting, MLAs spend their
time meeting with those constituents to discuss their
concerns and to provide guidance and advice relating
to government services.