Provincial and Federal
Government
CHV2O – MR NYMAN
Executive Branch
Federal
 Prime minister: head of the federal government; leader
of the national party in power

Cabinet: selected by head of government to be responsible for
departments

Public Service: people who conduct the daily business of government
Provincial
 Premier: head of the provincial government; leader of
the provincial party in power

Cabinet: selected by head of government to be responsible for
ministries

Public Service: people who conduct the daily business of government
Executive Branch
Prime Minister
 Head of the national party that is in
power
 Voted in just like every other MP
 Represents Canada internationally
 Appoints judges and senators
Premier
 Head of the provincial party that is in
power
 Voted in like every other MPP
 Works with other premiers and the
federal government
 Appoints judges and senators
Cabinet
 Head of ministries (Health, Labour,
Education…)
 Appointed by the premier
Cabinet
 Head of departments (Natural
Resources, Environment, …)
 Appointed by the Prime Minister
Public Service
 Face of the government, interacts with citizens directly
Legislative Branch
Parliament
 House of Commons
 Provincial: Full of MPPs; Federal: Full of MPs
 Make the laws for federal/provincial government
 The party with the most number of ‘seats’ (elected members), is the
‘government’
 The other parties form the ‘opposition’
 You can watch parliament on the CPAC channel on TV:
http://www.cpac.ca/en/
Senate
 ‘upper house of parliament’
 Can propose or amend bills from the House of Commons
 Appointed by the Prime Minister
 They may serve until they are 75
 The provincial government does not have a senate
Judicial Branch
 Supreme Court of Canada
 Provincial Supreme Court

Court of Appeal
 Criminal Division
• Superior court (major crimes)
• Criminal court (ordinary crimes)

Civil Division
• Civil court (private disputes)
• Small claims court (disputes below $3000)
• Family court (custody, divorce, etc.)
 http://tvo.org/special/civics-101-ontarios-political-
process-explained
Political Parties
Left-wing (liberal)
Support change in order
to improve the welfare of
all citizens
Centre
Tradition is important, but
change must be
supported if most people
want it
Governments should play Governments should play
a larger role in people’s
a role only in that it
lives, especially in
improves the lives of
providing social services
citizens
Right-wing (conservative)
Tradition is important;
change should be treated
with caution
Law are order are
important to protect the
rights of all citizens fairly
and equally
Emphasizes law and order
to protect society and its
traditions
Law and order are
important to encourage
and protect rights of
individuals
Governments should play
a small role. Private
businesses should ensure
needs of citizens are met.
Political Parties

Conservative Party (centre/right-wing)




New Democratic Party (left-wing)







Only hold seats in Quebec
Leader: André Bellavance
4 seats
Green Party



Leader: Justin Trudeau
36 seats
Bloc Qubecois


Official opposition party
Leader: Tom Mulcair
99 seats
Liberal Party (centre/left-wing)


Currently hold a majority government (more than half the seats in parliament)
Leader: Stephen Harper
Has 161 seats
Leader: Elizabeth May
2 seats
Other parties, ‘independents’

3 seats
Bias
 Read the page 134 – Detecting Bias
 Then review the infosource on page 132 and try to
recognize the bias in the ads
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtcX4aC5keI
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9Z5gQJieaE
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0vYTFve7tA
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPQfeIn_eF8&list=
UUNy7kGTjE-i0GwgGbgGFePg
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwwVo3CEFAQ