The Canadian political system is a federal parliamentary system with 14 governments including the federal government and 10 provincial governments. It is highly decentralized with provinces having significant power. The House of Commons represents the population but provides unequal representation of provinces. The Canadian system fuses powers between the legislative and executive branches unlike the US separation of powers. The House of Commons is the focus of power and carries out the will of the governing party.

1. The Canadian Political System: A
Comparative Perspective
Study Canada Summer Institute in Ottawa/Montreal
July 3, 2012
Donald Alper
Department of Political Science
Center for Canadian-American Studies
Western Washington University

2. A Federal System
14 governments
(excluding First Nations)
1 federal
10 provincial
3 territorial

3. Characteristics of Federal System
• Highly decentralized
– provinces exert greater
power than states
-fewer; serve as regional
power centers
• French-English
‘accommodation’
– Quebec = French-speaking
homeland within Canada

4. • In US—states have strong/equal rep
in national government via US Senate
• In Canada—no elected/ equal senate
to represent provincial interests
A Closer Look at Pol Structure and
Provincial Influence
House of Commons is based on rep by pop-thus
huge inequality in provincial clout at national level

5. Ontario 106
Québec 75
British Columbia 36
Alberta 28
Manitoba 14
Saskatechewan 14
Nova Scotia 11
New Brunswick 10
Nfld and Labrador 7
Prince Edward Island 4
Yukon 1
NWT 1
Nunavut 1
Total 308
House of Commons
Representation by Province
181 = 60%
92 = 30%
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6. Parliamentary v. Presidential-Congressional Systems:
Comparative Framework
United States - Separation of powers Canada - Fusion of Powers

7. Role of Legislative Bodies
US Congress
(House and Senate)
• House and Senate roughly equal in power
and influence
• Strong, independent powers to legislate
Canadian Parliament
(Commons and Senate)
• House of Commons focus of power; carries
out will of majority party
• Unelected senate, mostly advisory
• Opposition principle built into House of
Commons
• Question Period
United States - Separation of powers Canada - Fusion of Powers

8. Government and Opposition
Note the “face-off”
architecture of The House
of Commons

9. Question Period: A Unique
Parliamentary Institution
See: Model Parliamentary Unit
Teaching File
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/education/mpu/index_e.asp
Have students simulate
question period.
Assign roles such as
PM, Leaders of
Opposition parties,
cabinet ministers, etc.

10. Party Seats Popular
Vote
Conservative 166 40%
New Democratic Party 103 31%
Liberal 34 19%
Bloc Québécois 4 6%
Green Party 1 4%
Independent/Other 0 1%
TOTAL 308
A Minority Government 2008 A Majority Government 2011
Majority & Minority Governments
Have the students work out the numbers and likely partners in a
possible coalition government
Party Seats Popular
Vote
Conservative 143 38%
Liberal 77 26%
Bloc Québécois 49 10%
New Democratic Party 37 18%
Green Party 0 7%
Independent/Other 2 1%
TOTAL 308

11. Political Parties & Leaders

12. Thank You