How to Follow Canadian Politics

Canada has a parliamentary system of government. The constitution also confers powers to the provinces, and the country retains ceremonial ties to Great Britain. Follow current Canadian politics by looking at the country's structure and the major political parties.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Notice the structure of the Canadian federal government. The House of Commons is made up of elected representatives from around the country. They are known as Members of Parliament.

2. Examine the political parties. At any given time there are 3 or 4 main parties. The Liberals and the Conservatives are the oldest of these. The New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois are also important.

3. Look at the political range of the parties. New Democrats are on the left, Liberals are left-to-center and Conservatives lean center-to-right. The Bloc Quebecois aligns itself across the spectrum, but its main function is to represent only Quebec's interests.

4. View election results. Because it's a parliamentary system, the party that elects the majority of Members of Parliament becomes the party in power. If there's no clear majority because votes are split among all the parties, a minority government forms.

5. Follow the party leaders. The Prime Minister of Canada is the leader of the party that wins the majority or forms the minority government. The party leader who comes in second becomes the Canadian Leader of the Opposition.

6. Remember that while Canada has a Senate, the citizens don't elect it. Members of the Senate are appointed by the party in power at the time. The Senate doesn't have much power.

7. Look at how legislation gets passed. Members of Parliament are expected to vote in accordance with the wishes of their parties. It's very rare for a party leader to release Members to vote however they want, or the way their constituents might want.

8. Examine the Quebec factor. Quebec has special status under the Canadian constitution. Success in Canadian politics often depends on understanding and acknowledging this special status while placating those in the country who resent the arrangement.

Tips & Warnings

• Canada also has a Governor General who acts as the Queen of England's representative. While the Governor General still gives Royal Assent as the last step in passing legislation, this is a largely ceremonial position.
• To effectively follow Canadian politics, understand that the provinces are powerful. They control major items such as education and health care. Canada's history is filled with stories of how province's power has derailed federal programs.
• As in any parliamentary system, there is a daily period in which the Prime Minister must respond to questions from the opposition. It can be a lively, and sometimes raucous, exchange.

Resources

• The Parliament of Canada website has political parties' links and information.
• One Stop Immigration Canada is about Canadian politics.