More on Canadian Government

Majority GovernmentLiberal – 1974

Majority Government

• A single political party has more than half of all the MPs in the House.

• In such governments, the Prime Minister and Cabinet have an incredible amount of control over the government policy and direction. – Easy to pass bills into law because they have

the majority of votes in their party

Minority Governments

• 2006 • 2008

Minority Government

• No single political party has a clear majority of MPs in the House. The political party with the most MPs, nevertheless, forms a minority government.

• The government does not have 50%+1 to pass bills into law.– Instead, it must negotiate and compromise

with opposition parties to gain their support for government legislation.

Voting in Parliament

• The party whip tells caucus members of important votes

• Tow-the-party-line: you must vote with the wishes of your party

• Free vote: you can vote how you wish

• Private members bill: An MP other than a cabinet minister (a backbencher or private member) introduces a bill

Distribution of Votes Across Canada

Greater Toronto

Coalition Government

• Two or more political parties (with a combined majority in the House) enter into a formal agreement to form the government together. – 1917-1920: Since Confederation there has only been

one coalition government in Canada’s history: the Union Government of World War I. This was a coalition between the Conservative Party, led by Robert Borden, and Liberals and independents. The coalition was formed in order to broaden support for the Borden government and its controversial conscription policy. 

Proposed Coalition Government

• Below reflects the proposed Canadian government made up of coalition partners Liberal and New Democrat parties, with the Bloc Quebecois party, which agreed to support the coalition in Parliament.

Prorogue Parliament

• Parliament stops between sessions.

• There is no general election.

• All MPs retain their seats.

• All bills and motions die.

• Afghan detainees• Prevent coalition gov’t

Vote of Non Confidence

• If a bill is tabled and deemed a confidence vote (budget), and it doesn’t get a majority vote in the House of Commons, the government “falls” and an election must be called.

Ontario: Majority or Minority?

• Last election: 2007

• Ontario elections are now held on fixed dates: the first Thursday of October every four years.

• Next election: Oct 6th, 2011