2. Components of Executive Branch
• Governor General:
David Johnston
• Prime Minister:
Stephen Harper
• Cabinet:
Members of the HOC or Senate with or without Portfolios (Government
ministries they are in charge of) that form the P.M.’s closest group of
advisors
Possible portfolios or ministries include but are not limited to: Ministry of
National Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Safety
etc.
• The Bureaucracy:
The offices and departments necessary to run the ministries that Cabinet
Ministers with Portfolios are responsible for
3. Governor General
Has mostly symbolic duties such as receiving
new ambassadors and awarding the Order of
Canada to people who have made
outstanding contributions to public life.
Does have the power to decline to sign a bill
into a law or prorogue Parliament.
4. The Prime Minister
Central Figure
Head of Government
Powers are enormous but
not outlined in any
document
Those powers include:
a.) party leadership
b.) appointment
c.) governmental
organization
d.) dissolution of the
House of Commons
5. a.) Party Leadership
The P.M has the power to approve which person from
his own party will run in an election to become an MP in
each riding (constituency, electoral district)
When a party wins an election, it can be said that the
voters have given that party a mandate to rule the
country
PM can therefore count on support of his MP’s. This
means that they will all vote the way the leader of the
party votes. This is called Party Solidarity
The P.M. utilizes caucus meetings (a meeting of
supporters or members of a specific political party or
movement) to iron out issues or disagreements within
the party.
6. b.) Power of appointment
The P.M. appoints the Governor General
Appoints cabinet members through Governor
General
The P.M. decides the size of the cabinet
Each province is supposed to be represented
in cabinet
All races, genders, minority groups etc. are
meant to be represented, obviously that
poses some challenges.
7. c.) Government organization
The PM appoints cabinet ministers and has
the power to create or abolish portfolio’s
(ministries)
The P.M. will often pick his most trusted
cabinet members to form an inner cabinet for
every day decision making
Cabinets can be shuffled by the PM to freshen
things up
8. d.) Power of Dissolution
The PM is able to set the time of election
to their liking, within their five year term
Government can be dissolved before they
set an election date if they are a minority
government and they are defeated in a
vote of non-confidence
The government serves a maximum five
year term, before calling an election
9. Prime Ministers Office
Carry out everyday functions of government
(answer phones, mail, schedules etc.)
Top people in office play important role
Head of PMO known as Principal Secretary =
Good friend to PM
Advise PM on how policies will affect party
popularity
10. Privy Council Office
Eyes and ears of cabinet
Top figure = Clerk of Privy Council
Very influential
Coordinating meetings and relaying decisions
Provide impartial research and info
11. The Cabinet
Members of cabinet called ministers are
responsible for portfolio’s
These portfolios are comprised of what we call
ministries (like the Ministry of Transportation)
Cabinets form committees to discuss planning
and priorities
Cabinet members show solidarity to their party
Ministers agree to secrecy regarding meetings
12. Cabinet Continued…
A key agency linked with the Cabinet is the
Treasury Board (cabinet committee)
Purpose is to monitor budgets of the
government
Another group associated with the Cabinet is
the “Shadow Cabinet.” The Official Opposition
appoints one of their MP’s to “shadow” each of
the Cabinet Ministers responsible for a portfolio
13. Ministries or Bureaucracy
One in every five Canadians works for the
government
Divided into several branches
Four major structures:
a.) government departments
b.) crown corporations
c.) regulator agencies
d.) advisory bodies.
Song!
14. Bureaucracy continued…
• Government departments:
- There are approximately 23 departments
each led by a Cabinet minister
- Ex. Transportation, National Defense,
Justice, etc.
• Crown Corporation:
- This is a business owned by the
government
- Ex: Canadian National Railway
15. Bureaucracy continued…
- Regulatory Agencies:
- set rules and regulations by which
businesses in Canada must operate
- Ex: Canadian Transport Commission
- Advisory Bodies:
- Royal Commissions or task forces set up to
examine a specific issue
- Ex. Royal Commission on Canadian Unity
