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This chapter is about how Canada is run: who makes the laws, who carries them out, and which level of government looks after what. Most test questions come from a handful of ideas: the three key facts, head of state versus head of government, the three parts of Parliament, how a bill becomes law, and the division of powers.
Three key facts
- Federal state. Power is shared between the federal government in Ottawa and the provincial governments. The British North America Act of 1867 (today called the Constitution Act, 1867) set out which level does what. Federalism lets each province shape policies for its own people and try out new ideas.
- Parliamentary democracy. Citizens elect representatives to the House of Commons and to provincial and territorial legislatures. These representatives pass laws, approve and monitor spending, and hold the government to account. Cabinet ministers must keep the confidence of the elected members; this is called responsible government.
- Constitutional monarchy. The head of state is a hereditary Sovereign, King Charles III, who reigns according to the Constitution and the rule of law.
Head of state vs head of government
The head of state is the King. He stays above party politics, is a focus of citizenship and allegiance, symbolizes Canada’s sovereignty and is a guardian of constitutional freedoms. The head of government is the Prime Minister, who chooses the Cabinet ministers and is responsible for the government’s day-to-day operations and policy.
In Canada the King is represented by the Governor General at the federal level and by a Lieutenant Governor in each of the ten provinces. The King appoints the Governor General on the Prime Minister’s advice; the Governor General appoints each Lieutenant Governor, also on the Prime Minister’s advice. Both normally serve about five years. Each of the three territories has a Commissioner, who represents the federal government and has a ceremonial role. The territories use powers delegated to them by Parliament, while the provinces get their powers from the Constitution.
The three parts of Parliament
- The Sovereign, represented by the Governor General, who gives Royal Assent to bills.
- The Senate: senators are appointed by the Governor General on the Prime Minister’s advice and may serve until age 75.
- The House of Commons: the representative chamber, made up of Members of Parliament (MPs) elected by the people.
The Prime Minister and Cabinet are not a separate part of Parliament. The Cabinet prepares the budget and proposes most new laws. A provincial legislature is simpler: the Lieutenant Governor plus one elected Legislative Assembly. No province has a senate.
How a bill becomes law
- First reading: the bill is introduced and printed.
- Second reading: members debate and vote on its principle.
- Committee stage: a committee studies it clause by clause.
- Report stage: members can make further amendments.
- Third reading: members debate and vote on the bill.
- Senate: the bill goes through a similar process.
- Royal Assent: the Governor General approves it and it becomes law.
Each new session of Parliament opens with the Speech from the Throne, usually read by the Governor General on the King’s behalf, which sets out the government’s plans.
Who does what
| Level | Main responsibilities | Led by |
|---|---|---|
| Federal (Ottawa) | National defence, foreign policy, citizenship, currency, criminal law, navigation, trade and communications between provinces | Prime Minister and Cabinet |
| Provincial | Education, health, natural resources, highways, property and civil rights, municipal government | Premier |
| Shared (federal and provincial) | Agriculture and immigration | Both levels |
| Municipal (city or town) | Streets and roads, garbage and snow removal, firefighting, ambulance and emergency services, public transit, recreation, local planning; passes by-laws | Mayor or reeve, with councillors |
| First Nations reserves | Housing, schools and other services | Band chiefs and councillors |
Who is who
| Office | Role | How chosen |
|---|---|---|
| The King | Head of state | Hereditary |
| Governor General | Represents the King for all of Canada; gives Royal Assent | Appointed by the King on the Prime Minister’s advice |
| Lieutenant Governor | Represents the King in one province | Appointed by the Governor General on the Prime Minister’s advice |
| Commissioner | Represents the federal government in a territory | Appointed, not elected |
| Prime Minister | Head of the federal government | Leads the party able to govern in the House of Commons |
| Premier | Head of a provincial government | Leads the party able to govern in the provincial assembly |
| Senator | Member of the Senate | Appointed; serves until 75 |
Common mix-ups
- Governor General vs Lieutenant Governor: both represent the King, but the Governor General acts for all of Canada and a Lieutenant Governor for one province. The territories have Commissioners, so there are 10 Lieutenant Governors, not 13.
- Prime Minister vs Premier: the Prime Minister leads Canada; a Premier leads a province.
- Head of state vs head of government: the King is head of state; the Prime Minister is head of government. The Governor General is neither: the office is the King’s representative.
- Parts of Parliament: Sovereign, Senate, House of Commons. The Prime Minister, Cabinet and Supreme Court are not on the list.
- Which level? Health and education are provincial, not federal. Criminal law and currency are federal. Snow removal and garbage are municipal. Only agriculture and immigration are shared.
- Senators are appointed, never elected.