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.The Prime Minister may ask the Governor General to call an earlier election. Canadian citizens who are 18 years or older may run in a federal election.The people who run for office are called candidates.There can be many candidates in an electoral district.*
In Canada,women have the same rights as men.Women must be treated the same as men in the workplace. Women cannot be denied work opportunities, including promotions, because of their gender.All governments in Canada encourage equal treatment of, and opportunity for,women of all ages. Learn more
There are four major political parties at the federal level in Canada: the Bloc Québécois, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party, and the New Democratic Party.The Bloc Québécois has representatives only from the Province of Quebec. See page 240 for a list of contact information for each of these parties. Learn more
In addition to rights and freedoms, Canadian citizens also have responsibilities. These include understanding and obeying Canadian laws, voting in elections, allowing other Canadians to enjoy their rights and freedoms, taking care of the environment, and helping to strengthen our multicultural society. It is considered very important for Canadians to show respect for the rights and well-being of others.*
The Queen is represented in Canada by the Governor General.The Queen and her representatives primarily have a ceremonial responsibility. The Governor General delivers the Speech from the Throne that is written by the Prime Minister’s team in the House of Parliament.The Throne Speech describes what the government hopes to accomplish during the next session of Parliament. [Day- Planner web site – Link #247]*
The provinces in Canada are responsible for education, health, natural resources, property and civil rights, and highways. Federalism allows different provinces to adopt policies tailored to their populations, and gives provinces the flexibility to experiment with new ideas and policies.*
Canada’s parliament has three parts: the Sovereign (Queen or King), the Senate and the House of Commons. The Prime Minister selects the Cabinet ministers and is responsible for the operations and policy of the government. The House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament elected by the people. Senators are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister.*