How Canadians Govern Themselves | Discover Canada Guide

This chapter asks you to hold three separate labels for Canada's system of government in your head at once, and correctly explain how they fit together.

Three descriptions of one system

Canada is simultaneously a federal state (power divided between a national government and provincial/territorial governments), a parliamentary democracy (the government is formed by and accountable to an elected legislature), and a constitutional monarchy (the King is Head of State, but his powers are exercised within strict constitutional limits and largely on the advice of elected officials).

Head of State vs. Head of Government

The King is Canada's Head of State, a role that is mostly ceremonial and symbolic today. He is represented in Canada by the Governor General at the federal level and by a Lieutenant Governor in each province. The Prime Minister is Head of Government and holds real day-to-day political power, leading the party with the most support in the House of Commons and directing the work of the Cabinet.

The three parts of Parliament

Parliament consists of the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General), the Senate, and the House of Commons. The House of Commons is made up of elected Members of Parliament (MPs), one per electoral riding. The Senate is made up of members appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, intended to provide regional representation and a further check on legislation.

Federal, provincial, and municipal responsibilities

Under the Constitution, some responsibilities belong to the federal government (such as national defence, criminal law, and citizenship), others belong to the provinces and territories (such as education, healthcare delivery, and property law), and municipalities handle local matters such as roads and waste collection, operating under powers delegated by their province.