canadian government what is it? how does it work? who is really in charge?

Canadian GovernmentWhat is it?How Does it Work?Who is Really in Charge?

Lesson Objectives: Apply critical thinking – including questioning,

comparing, summarizing, drawing conclusions, and defending a position – to make reasoned judgements about a range of issues, situations, and topics

Demonstrate effective research skills, including accessing information, assessing information, collecting data, evaluating data, organizing information, presenting information, and citing sources

Note-making Skills Reminder:

Students who take effective notes are able to: Locate main ideas Highlight supporting ideas Realize the importance of existing knowledge Use abbreviations Recognize key words Identify gaps in knowledge Ask questions in order to increase their

knowledge

What is Canadian Government?

Government creates rules and manages services that require “community” or

shared commitment, for shared benefit.

Departments and Agencies

Why So Many Governmental Agencies? These are often services that can‘t be

effectively delivered by a private business, or a service that the government has determined is essential for all people.

A simple example is a community where all members pay a portion of the development and maintenance costs of a water system.

How Are We Governed?In Canada, we are governed by three levels of government:

Federal (national- Government of Canada)

Provincial (our province- Government of BC)

Municipal (local- Regional District or District/City Council)

People pay taxes to the three levels of government in exchange for services and regulations.

Examples of these services include: Defence Welfare Health Care Roads

Government provides regulations to assist and improve society

Criminal Code Land Zoning Car Licensing

Government represents us internationally Foreign Affairs UN Ambassadors

Government also issues money

The government of Canada is based on a style of government called “Westminster Government”.• A Westminster government draws its name from the seat of the British Parliament at Westminster in London.• This model of government is both representative and responsible,

-i.e. that Members of Parliament represent citizens and are responsible to Parliament & electors for their actions.

• Both the federal and provincial governments follow the Westminster model.

Canada’s government can be described as: A representative democracy, (we elect

leaders who make decisions on our behalf) A constitutional monarchy (we have a

monarch, whose power is limited by a constitution)

A federation (a collection of regional governments [provinces] that are governed by a central government as a nation [country].

Who Governs Us?In Canada, at the national (Federal) level:

Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Governor General, is our Head of State. Our Prime Minister is our Head of

Government.

At the Provincial Level:

The Queen is represented by the Lieutenant Governor:

Our Premier is the leader of the government:

Exit Ticket:On a piece of paper:

Write three things you learned and one question you have about Canadian Government and/or note-making strategies

Ideology: Part OneShould I take a left or a right?

Lesson Objective: Demonstrate skills and attitudes of

active citizenship, including ethical behaviour, open-mindedness, respect for diversity, and collaboration Identify attributes associated with active

citizenship, including: Ongoing examination and reassessment of

own beliefs

What is ideology? Ideology is a philosophical perspective

or set of opinions about the role governments.

These positions or ideas can placed on a chart, the simplest is a straight line, showing either “liberal” or “conservative”.

How Does One Know if They are Left or Right Wing?

The Left Usually Supports:

Economic Equality: gov’t controls on the economy to protect consumers, equalize economic opportunities, redistribute wealth and provide support for the poor and disadvantaged.

Intellectual (Personal) Freedom: Minimizing gov’t controls & regulations on social & personal activities to protect individual freedoms.

The Right Usually Supports:

Economic Freedom: Minimizing gov’t regulation of the economy to allow people to maximize their potential (lower taxes).

Intellectual (Personal) Equality: Strong support for gov’t controls on social and personal activities to protect society and traditional values

The Nolan Chart

The straight line can’t show all the possibilities. One can be right wing on economic issues, but left

wing on personal issues. This means the straight line spectrum is too basic and

simplistic. There are two other extremes, Libertarian and

Authoritarian. If you prefer the absence of any gov’t control- you are

Libertarian. If you prefer significant gov’t controls, you are Authoritarian.

Therefore, the Nolan Chart more accurately charts the spectrum of political ideas.

Ideology: Part TwoTake Me to Your Leader

Lesson Objective: Demonstrate understanding of the political

spectrum: Define totalitarianism, democracy, liberalism,

conservatism, socialism, fascism, and communism

Apply critical thinking – including questioning, comparing, and drawing conclusions – to make reasoned judgment about a range of issues, situations and topics: Compare a range of point of views on an issue

Top Five Ideologies

Communism extreme left wing

Socialism left wingLiberalism centreConservatism right wingFascism extreme right wing

Communism Seeks elimination of classes, esp. land & business

owners, in society Strong commitment to economic equality, opposed to

capitalism Government owns all modes of production, no private

enterprise Single party system, political opposition not tolerated Very Authoritarian, often led by dictatorial leader

Examples: Originated in Russia (became USSR) in 1917, under

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Current communist countries- Cuba, China, North Korea,

Laos & Vietnam Communism has had almost no appeal in Canada

Socialism Believes in a more egalitarian society,

more personal freedoms Believes in gov’t ownership or regulation

of some sectors of the economy; supports strong gov’t role in delivering social welfare

Uses taxes to reduce difference between rich & poor

Socialist influences in Canada: Political Parties: CCF, Social Credit, NDP Significant Example: Universal Health Care (also

welfare)

Liberalism Believes gov’t should provide social welfare

programs Believes in economic freedom Believes in equal rights Supports using taxes to redistribute wealth, but

without discouraging the accumulation of wealth (they believe wealth is needed for investment and employment)

Liberal Influences in Canada Political Parties: Liberal Party (held power the

longest in Can. history) Significant Example: Trudeau’s Charter of Rights

and Freedoms

Conservatism Supports social traditions in society Believes in a small role for gov’t in society &

economy (Laissez-Faire) Believes in economic freedom for all people Believes in law and order, with less emphasis on

personal freedoms Believes in lower taxes, and fewer gov’t services

Conservative influences in Canada Political Parties: Conservative Party, Reform, BC

Liberals Significant Example: Mulroney’s Free Trade

Agreement

Fascism Relies on strong, central gov’t, often using violence &

intimidation No tolerance of any political opposition. Appeals to strong sense of nationalism & advocates a

strong military Engages in social restructuring, strong beliefs about

race Committed to a strong economy & individual wealth

(approved people) Examples:

Originated in Italy (Mussolini), copied by Germany’s Nazi party (Hitler)

Fascists were responsible for the Holocaust and were defeated in WW2

Neo-Fascism is associated with hate groups & white-supremacists

What about Totalitarianism and Democracy?

Totalitarianism Dissent not tolerated in a

totalitarian government A single mass party,

hierarchically organised, closely interwoven with the state bureaucracy and typically led by one person

Monopolistic control of the armed forces and forms of communication

A system of terroristic police control

Centralized control and direction of the entire economy

Democracy A form of government in which

laws are made by the citizens Two versions:

By plebiscite (direct democracy)

By representatives elected to act on the citizens’ behalf (indirect democracy).

Equality and freedom are important components

Several varieties of democracy and representation

From Ideology to Party“These days politics are almost genetic.” John Zogby

Lesson Objective: Demonstrate understanding of the

political spectrum: Distinguish among Canada’s and BC’s

major political parties in terms of policies, philosophies, and priorities

From Ideology to Party In a democracy, candidates often identify

themselves as belonging to a larger group with common policies and goals.

Political parties can change over time, and they are not bound to stick to a certain ideology all of the time.

Often parties take names of ideologies to solidify their identity.

Do not confuse parties with ideologies: Ideologies do not change, parties can. (ideology- way of thinking vs. party- a group of people)

Where do Canadian parties fall on the political spectrum?

The “Big Three” Federal Parties

THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY (NDP) Left wing (socialist) Party Leader- Jack

Layton Represent “workers

and the common people”

“Policies from the kitchen table, not the boardroom table.”

THE LIBERAL PARTY OF CANADA (LIBERAL)

centrist (liberal) Party Leader- Michael

Ignatieff Middle of the road,

currently rebuilding after Chretien & Dion

Most popular in 20th C. (Laurier, King, Pearson, Trudeau, Chretien)

THE CONSEVATIVE PARTY OF CANADA (CONSERVATIVE)

Right wing (conservative)

Stephen Harper Represent fiscal

responsibility and traditional values

Seen as supportive of business (Borden, Diefenbaker, Mulroney)

BC Political Parties

The main three political parties in BC are:• NDP• BC Liberals• Green

But there are also 29 more registered political parties in BC

The Big Two and the Old One

BC NDP Left wing (socialist) Carole James Represents “workers

& common people”, often supported by unions & social activists

Formed first gov’t in 1972 (Barrett)

BC Liberals Right wing

(conservative) Gordon Campbell Often supported by

business & large industries

Existed since 1902, but grew in popularity in the 1990’s

Social Credit Right wing

(conservative) Led by Kelowna’s W.A.C.

Bennett ( ‘52- ‘72) & son Bill Bennett ( ‘75- ‘86).

From ‘86- ’91, ongoing scandals led to the party’s decline.

The vacuum left was filled by the growing BC Liberal Party.