How Canadians Govern Themselves

Question 1

There are three key facts about Canada’s system of government: our country is a ____, a ____ and a ____.

Answer 1

There are three key facts about Canada’s system of government: our country is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy.

Question 2

In our federal state, the federal government takes responsibility for matters of ____ and ____ concern.

These include defence, foreign policy, interprovincial trade and communications, currency, navigation, criminal law and citizenship.

Answer 2

In our federal state, the federal government takes responsibility for matters of national and international concern.

These include defence, foreign policy, interprovincial trade and communications, currency, navigation, criminal law and citizenship.

Question 3

The provinces are responsible for municipal government, ____, health, natural resources, ____ and civil rights, and highways.

Answer 3

The provinces are responsible for municipal government, education, health, natural resources, property and civil rights, and highways.

Question 4

The federal government and the provinces share jurisdiction over ____ and ____.

Answer 4

The federal government and the provinces share jurisdiction over agriculture and immigration.

Question 5

Every province has its own elected ____, like the House of Commons in Ottawa.

Answer 5

Every province has its own elected Legislative Assembly, like the House of Commons in Ottawa.

Question 6

Who are Cabinet ministers responsible to?

Answer 6

Cabinet ministers are responsible to the elected representatives, which means they must retain the “confidence of the House” and have to resign if they are defeated in a non-confidence vote.

Question 7

Parliament has three parts: ____, the ____ and the ____.

Answer 7

Parliament has three parts: the Sovereign (Queen or King), the Senate and the House of Commons.

Question 8

In the federal government, the ____ selects the ____ and is responsible for the operations and policy of the government.

Answer 8

In the federal government, the Prime Minister selects the Cabinet ministers and is responsible for the operations and policy of the government.

Question 9

The ____ is the representative chamber, made up of members of Parliament elected by the people, traditionally every four years.

Answer 9

The House of Commons is the representative chamber, made up of members of Parliament elected by the people, traditionally every four years.

Question 10

____ are appointed by the Governor General on the advice
of the Prime Minister and serve until age 75.

Answer 10

Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice
of the Prime Minister and serve until age 75.

Question 11

Both the ____ and the ____ consider and review bills (proposals for new laws).

Answer 11

Both the House of Commons and the Senate consider and review bills (proposals for new laws).

Question 12

As a constitutional monarchy, Canada’s Head of State is a ____, who reigns in accordance with the Constitution:
the rule of law.

Answer 12

As a constitutional monarchy, Canada’s Head of State is a hereditary Sovereign (Queen or King), who reigns in accordance with the Constitution:
the rule of law.

Question 13

Her Majesty is a symbol of Canadian ____, a guardian of constitutional ____, and a reflection of our history.

Answer 13

Her Majesty is a symbol of Canadian sovereignty, a guardian of constitutional freedoms, and a reflection of our history.

Question 14

Other constitutional monarchies include Denmark, ____, Sweden,
Australia, ____, The Netherlands, Spain, ____, Japan, Jordan and Morocco.

Answer 14

Other constitutional monarchies include Denmark, Norway, Sweden,
Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Spain, Thailand, Japan, Jordan and Morocco.

Question 15

The Sovereign is represented in Canada by the ____, who is appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the ____, usually for five years.

Answer 15

The Sovereign is represented in Canada by the Governor General, who is appointed by the
Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister, usually for five years.

Question 16

In each of the ten provinces, the Sovereign is represented by the ____, who is appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the ____, also normally for five years.

Answer 16

In each of the ten provinces, the Sovereign is represented by the Lieutenant Governor, who is appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, also normally for five years.

Question 17

Three branches of government work together but also sometimes in creative tension, helps to securethe rights and freedoms of Canadians.

Name them.

Answer 17

The interplay between the three branches of government—the Executive, Legislative and Judicial.

Question 18

What do these terms stand for?

• MLA
• MNA
• MPP
• MHA

Answer 18

• Members of the legislature are called members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)
• Members of the National
  Assembly (MNAs)
• Members of the Provincial
  Parliament (MPPs)
• Members of the House of
  Assembly (MHAs)

Question 19

In the three territories, the ____ represents the federal government and plays a ceremonial role.

Answer 19

In the three territories, the Commissioner represents the federal government and plays a ceremonial role.

Question 20

Canadians vote in elections for the people they want to represent them in the ____.

Answer 20

Canadians vote in elections for the people they want to represent them in the House of Commons.

Question 21

Under legislation passed by Parliament, how often must federal elections be held?

Answer 21

Under legislation passed by Parliament, federal elections must be held on the third Monday in October every four years following the most recent general election.

Question 22

Canada is divided into ____ electoral districts, also known as ____ or ____.

Answer 22

Canada is divided into 308 electoral districts, also known as ridings or constituencies.

Question 23

Name 3 eligibility criteria to vote in a federal election.

Answer 23

You are eligible to vote in a federal election or cast a ballot in a federal
referendum if you are:
* a Canadian citizen; and
* at least 18 years old on voting day; and
* on the voters’ list.

Question 24

Which agency produces the voters’ lists used during federal elections?

Answer 24

The voters’ lists used during federal elections and referendums are produced from the National Register of Electors by a neutral agency of Parliament called Elections Canada.

Question 25

What does it mean to have a right to a secret ballot?

Answer 25

This means that:
- no one can watch you vote and
- no one should look at how you voted.

Question 26

What is a majority government?

Answer 26

If the party in power holds at least half of the seats in the House of
Commons, this is called a majority government.

Question 27

What is a minority government?

Answer 27

If the party in power holds less than half of the seats in the House of Commons, this is called a minority government.

Question 28

The ____ and the ____ are called the Cabinet and they make important decisions about how the country is governed.

Answer 28

The Prime Minister and the Cabinet ministers are called the Cabinet and they make important decisions about how the country is governed.

Question 29

What is an opposition party?

Answer 29

The other parties that are not in power are known as opposition parties.

The opposition party with
the most members of the House of Commons is the Official Opposition or Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.

Question 30

Name the 3 major political parties currently represented in the House of Commons.

Answer 30

1. Conservative Party
2. New Democratic Party
3. Liberal Party

Question 31

Voting procedures during an election period

1. ____
2. I did not get a card
3. Advance poll and special ballot
4. ____
5. Marking the ballot
6. Voting is secret
7. ____
8. The election results

Answer 31

1. Voter information card
2. I did not get a card
3. Advance poll and special ballot
4. On election day
5. Marking the ballot
6. Voting is secret
7. The ballot box
8. The election results

Question 32

Municipal governments usually have a ____ that passes laws called ____ that affect only the local community.

The ____ usually includes a mayor (or a reeve) and ____ or aldermen.

Answer 32

Municipal governments usually have a council that passes laws called by-laws that affect only the local community.

The council usually includes a mayor (or a reeve) and councillors or aldermen.

Question 33

The First Nations have ____ and ____ who have major responsibilities on First Nations reserves, including housing, schools and other services.

Answer 33

The First Nations have band chiefs and councillors who have major responsibilities on First Nations
reserves, including housing, schools and other services.

Question 34

Who is yours?

1. Federal Government Head of State
2. Representative of the Queen of Canada, the Governor General
3. The Head of Government, the Prime Minister

Answer 34

Who is yours?

1. Federal Government Head of State
His Majesty King Charles III is King of Canada

2. Representative of the Queen of Canada, the Governor General
Mary Simon: sworn in on July 26, 2021, becoming the 30th person to hold the office. Simon is also the first Indigenous person to serve as Governor General.

3. The Head of Government, the Prime Minister
Justin Pierre James Trudeau: 23rd prime minister of Canada since 2015 and the leader of the Liberal Party since 2013.

Question 35

Provincial Government

1. The representative of the Queen in
   my province, the Lieutenant Governor
2. Government (the Premier)
3. The name of the provincial party in power
4. The names of the provincial opposition parties and leaders
5. My provincial representative

Answer 35

Provincial Government

The representative of the Queen in my province, the Lieutenant Governor
The present, and 30th, lieutenant governor of British Columbia is Janet Austin, who has served in the role since 24 April 2018.

Government (the Premier)
David Robert Patrick Eby KC MLA is a Canadian politician and lawyer who has served as the 37th premier of British Columbia since November 18, 2022.

The provincial party in power
Since 2017, the government has been formed by the NDP. From 2017 to 2020, the NDP formed a minority government with a confidence and supply agreement with the Green Party. Following the 2020 election, the NDP formed a majority government.

The names of the provincial opposition parties and leaders
John Rustad MLA is a Canadian politician who has served as the leader of the Opposition in British Columbia since 2024 and as the leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia since 2023.

My provincial representative
MLA: Sunita Dhir

Question 36

Territorial Government

1. The Commissioner, who represents the federal government in my territory
2. The Premier
3. My territorial representative

Answer 36

The Commissioner, who represents the federal government in my territory
Gerald Kisoun is the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, who represents the federal government in the Northwest Territories. He has held this position since May 14, 2024.

The Premier
Rocky “R.J.” Simpson (born September 27, 1980) is a Canadian politician, the 14th and current premier of the Northwest Territories since December 2023.

The name of my territorial representative
MLA: Sunita Dhir

Question 37

Municipal Government

1. The municipality where I live
2. The head of the municipal government (mayor or reeve)

Answer 37

The municipality where I live
The City of Vancouver

The head of the municipal government (mayor or reeve)
Mayor Ken Sim

Question 38

Provincial legislatures comprise the ____ and the elected ____.

Answer 38

Provincial legislatures comprise the Lieutenant Governor and the elected Assembly.

Question 39

Name the services municipalities are typically responsible for.

Name at least 3.

Answer 39

Municipalities are normally responsible for:
- urban or regional planning,
- streets and roads,
- sanitation (such as garbage removal),
- snow removal,
- firefighting,
- ambulance and other emergency services,
- recreation facilities,
- public transit,
- some local health and social services

Question 40

Federal Government

1. The political party in power
2. The Leader of the Opposition
3. The party representing Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition

Answer 40

Who is yours?

The political party in power
The Liberal Party

The Leader of the Opposition
Pierre Poilievre has been the leader of the Opposition since September 10, 2022, when he was elected leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, following the 2022 leadership election.

The party representing Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition
The Conservative Party

Question 41

Federal Government

1. The other opposition parties and leaders
2. My member of Parliament (MP) in British Columbia
3. My federal electoral district

Answer 41

Who is yours?

The other opposition parties and leaders
Justin Trudeau: Liberal
Pierre Poilievre: Conservative
Yves-Francois Blanchet: Bloc Quebecois
Jagmeet Singh: NDP

My member of Parliament (MP) in British Columbia
Taleeb Noormohamed

My federal electoral district
Vancouver Granville (British Columbia)