Workbook Page 14
Canada is part of the British Commonwealth. So the true head of Canada is Queen Elizabeth. The Governor General represents the queen in Canada.The Prime Minister picks a Governor General, but the Queen must say OK to it. The Prime Minister also picks new Senators and Judges for the Supreme Court to replace the ones that retire, but the Governor General must say OK to them.
Who is our Governor General?
(To find out who the Governor General is, click here.)
The Prime Minister asks some MPs in his party to give him advice about different government programs they run as part of his cabinet. Some Ministry programs are so big, the Cabinet Ministers have other MPs to help them. They are called Ministers of State. MPs in the party in charge who do not have these jobs are called backbenchers because they sit in the back rows of the House of Commons on benches behind the Ministers.
The MPs from all the other parties sit on the other side of the House of Commons from the party in power.
Workbook Page 15
National Political Parties
Most MPs belong to a political party. Members of a political party must agree to say that the same things are important and work toward the same goals.
Who are the parties in the House of Commons and their leaders?
To check your answers, click on the links below.
Party #1 Leader #1
Party #2 Leader #2
Party #3 Leader #3
Party #4 Leader #4
Party #5 Leader #5
Which party is in power?
(Hint - it has the most MPs.)
The Prime Minister leads the party in power and forms the government. Who is our Prime Minister?
Which party is the official opposition?
(Hint - It has the second most MPs)
Who is the leader of the opposition party?
The opposition's job is to keep the government honest and open with the people of Canada. They ask questions and point out problems.
Workbook Page 16
Who is my MP?
Your MP represents you with Canada's government. You can find out who your MP is three ways:
- Visit Elections Canada on the web http://www.elections.ca/scripts/pss/FindED.aspx?L=e
Type in your postal code or pick your province from the list and type in your address. - Call 1-800-463-6868. Give your address and ask who your MP is.
- Find where you live on the map. Click on the map where you live and it will tell you who your MP is.
Click here for a map of Edmonton
Click here for a map of Calgary
Workbook Page 17
Each MP should represent about the same number of people to keep it fair. After each census, the government looks at where people live now and draws a new map so each riding (MP district) has about the same number of people again.
Places with more people get more MPs at the next Canada election. Alberta got 6 more MPs at the last Canada election
Here is the old map for Calgary’s ridings and the new map for Calgary's ridings.
Old Map
Each MP should represent about the same number of people to keep it fair. After each census, the government looks at where people live now and draws a new map so each riding (MP district) has about the same number of people again.
Places with more people get more MPs at the next Canada election. Alberta got 6 more MPs at the last Canada election
Here is the old map for Calgary’s ridings and the new map for Calgary's ridings.
