dreaming the st. roch

Federal Government

Head of State: the representative of the Queen for all Canada is the Governor General: Michaëlle Jean

Head of government in power: the Prime Minister is Stephen Harper

The party in power is the Conservative Party

The leader of the opposition is Michael Ignatieff

The official opposition is the Liberal Party

The other opposition parties and leaders are:

• New Democratic Party, Jack Layton
• Bloc Québécois, Gilles Duceppe

My member of Parliament (MP) in Ottawa is: Jean Crowder

My federal electoral district is Nanaimo—Cowichan

Provincial Government

Head of State: the representative of the Queen for my province is the Lieutenant Governor: Steven L. Point

Head of the government: the Premier is Gordon Campbell

The provincial party in power is the Liberal Party

The provincial opposition parties and leaders are:

• New Democratic Party, Carole James

My provincial representative is Leonard Krog

Municipal Government

The name of the municipality where I live is Gabriola

The head of the municipal government (mayor or reeve) is Islands Trust

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Levels

• federal
• provincial (territorial)
• municipal (local)

The responsibilities of the federal and provincial governments were first defined in 1867 in the British North American Act.

Federal Responsibilities

• national defense
• foreign policy
• citizenship

Provincial/Territorial Responsibilities

• education
• health care
• highways

Municipal (local) Responsibilities

• policing
• firefighting
• snow removal
• recycling programs

The Parliament of Canada

Canada is a parliamentary democracy. (Forsey and others maintain it is a constitutional monarchy. Some agendas may need to be re-hemmed here.)

Breakdown

• The Queen
• House of Commons
• Senate

The Queen is the Head of State, and the Governor-General is her representative.

Members of Parliament are elected representatives of the common people. They form the House of Commons.

Senators are chosen by the Prime Minister and appointed by the Governor-General.

The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party with the most elected MPs sitting in the House of Commons.

Making Laws

Proposed legislation is called a bill. Bills must be formally read and studied a set number of times, then approved by majority vote of both House and Senate, and then approved by the Governor-General.

Other Levels of Government

Each provincial & territorial government has an elected legislature known as one of the following:

• Legislative Assembly (MLA)
• National Assembly (MNA)
• Provincial Parliament (MPP)
• House of Assembly (MHA)

(in the above, 'M' stands for 'Member'.)

British Columbia has a Legislative Assembly.

Municipal

Laws created by municipal govenments are known as by-laws and affect only the local community.

Municipal governments typically consist of a Mayor and Town Council.

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In 1535, two Aboriginal youths used the Huron-Iroquois word "kanata," which means "village" or "settlement," to tell Jacques Cartier the way to Stadacona (site of present-day Québec City). Cartier used "Canada" to refer not only to Stadacona, but also to the entire area subject to Donnacona, Chief at Stadacona.

The first used of "Canada" as an official name came in 1791 when the Constitutional Act divided Quebec into the provinces of Upper Canada and Lower Canada. In 1841, they were united to become the Province of Canada. At the time of Confederation, the new country took the name of Canada.

Confederation

On July 1st, 1867 the provinces below joined together to form the new country of Canada:

• Ontario
• Quebec
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia

This "joining together" event is known as Confederation. The anniversary of Confederation is celebrated as Canada Day.

Made official by the British North America Act of 1867.

Sir John A. MacDonald selected as the first Prime Minister.

Maple Leaf

• earliest known use: 1700.
• now on reverse of 1¢ coin.
• maple leaf flag adopted on February 15, 1965

beaver

appears on the reverse of the 5¢ coin.

Parliament Buildings

in Ottawa.

tower in centre known as Peace Tower. big one with the clock.

Constitution

The Constitution Act in 1982 gave the Canadian Parliament the right to change the Constitution without having to get the change approved by the British Parliament.

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms added to the Constitution in 1982.

The Queen

Still Head of State.

Governor-General is her representative in Canada.

Provincial representatives of the Queen are known as lieutenant governors

O Canada

O Canada! Our home and native land!

True patriot love in all thy sons command

With glowing hearts we see thee rise

The true North strong and free!

From far and wide, O Canada

We stand on guard for thee

God keep our land glorious and free!

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee

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