Discover Canada The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

Federal Elections

Canadians vote in elections for the people they want to represent them in the House of Commons. In each election, voters may re-elect the same members of the House of Commons or choose new ones. Members of the House of Commons are also known as Members of Parliament or MPs.

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.

Canada is divided into 308 electoral districts, also known as ridings or constituencies. An electoral district is a geographical area represented by a Member of Parliament (MP). The citizens in each electoral district elect one MP who sits in the House of Commons to represent them, as well as all Canadians.

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.

The people in each electoral district vote for the candidate and political party of their choice. The candidate who receives the most votes becomes the MP for that electoral district.

Voting

One of the privileges of Canadian citizenship is the right to vote. You are eligible to vote in a federal election or cast a ballot in a federal referendum if you are:

• a Canadian citizen; and
• at least 18 years old on voting day; and
• on the voters’ list.

The voters’ lists used during federal elections and referendums are produced from the National Register of Electors by a neutral agency of Parliament called Elections Canada. This is a permanent database of Canadian citizens 18 years of age and older who are qualified to vote in federal elections and referendums.

When you apply for citizenship, you can check a box on the application form to show you consent to the transfer of your name, address, sex, and date of birth to Elections Canada.

Eligible Canadians are also able to indicate their consent to being added to the National Register of Electors on their federal income tax form.

Once an election has been called, Elections Canada mails a voter information card to each elector whose name is in the National Register of Electors. The card lists when and where you vote and the number to call if you require an interpreter or other special services.

Even if you choose not to be listed in the National Register of Electors or do not receive a voter information card, you can still be added to the voters’ list until election day.

To vote either on election day or at advance polls, go to the polling station listed on your voter information card. (See voting procedures)

Secret ballot

Canadian law secures the right to a secret ballot. This means that no one can watch you vote and no one should look at how you voted. You may choose to discuss how you voted with others, but no one, including family members, your employer, or union representative, has the right to insist that you tell them how you voted. Immediately after the polling stations close, election officers count the ballots, and the results are announced on radio and television, and in the newspapers.

After an election

After an election, the leader of the political party with the most seats in the House of Commons is invited by the Governor General to form the government. After being appointed by the Governor General, the leader of this party becomes the Prime Minister. If the party in power holds at least half of the seats in the House of Commons, this is called a majority government. If the party in power holds less than half of the seats in the House of Commons, this is called a minority government.

The Prime Minister and the party in power run the government as long as they have the support or confidence of the majority of the MPs. When the House of Commons votes on a major issue such as the Budget, this is considered a matter of confidence. If a majority of the members of the House of Commons votes against a major government decision, the party in power is defeated — this usually results in the Prime Minister asking the Governor General, on behalf of the Sovereign, to call an election.

The Prime Minister chooses the ministers of the Crown, most of them from among members of the House of Commons. Cabinet ministers are responsible for running the federal government departments. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet ministers are called the Cabinet and they make important decisions about how the country is governed. They prepare the budget and propose most new laws. Their decisions can be questioned by all members of the House of Commons.

The opposition party with the most members of the House of Commons is the Official Opposition or Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. The role of opposition parties is to peacefully oppose or try to improve government proposals. The other parties that are not in power are known as opposition parties. There are four major political parties currently represented in the House of Commons: the Bloc Québécois, Conservative Party, Liberal Party and New Democratic Party.

Voting procedures during an election period

1. Voter information card

Electors whose information is in the National Register of Electors will receive a voter information card. This confirms that your name is on the voters’ list and states when and where you vote.

2. I did not get a card

If you do not receive a voter information card, call your local elections office to ensure that you are on the voters’ list. If you do not have the number, call Elections Canada, in Ottawa, at 1 800 463-6868.

3. Advance poll and special ballot

If you cannot or do not wish to vote on election day, you can vote at the advance polls or by special ballot. The dates and location are on your voter information card.

4. On election day

Go to your polling station. The location is on your voter information card. Bring this card and proof of your identity and address to the polling station.

5. Marking the ballot

Mark an “X” in the circle next to the name of the candidate of your choice.

6. Voting is secret

Your vote is secret. You will be invited to go behind the screen to mark your ballot. Once marked, fold it and present it to the poll officials.

7. The ballot box

The poll official will tear off the ballot number and give your ballot back to you to deposit in the ballot box.

8. The election results

When the polls close, every ballot is counted and the results are made public. You can see the results on television or on the Elections Canada website (www.elections.ca).

Other levels of government in Canada

Local or municipal government plays an important role in the lives of our citizens. Municipal governments usually have a council that passes laws called “by-laws” that affect only the local community. The council usually includes a mayor (or a reeve) and councillors or aldermen. Municipalities are normally responsible for urban or regional planning, streets and roads, sanitation (such as garbage removal), snow removal, firefighting, ambulance and other emergency services, recreation facilities, urban transit and some local health and social services. Most major urban centres have municipal police forces.

Provincial, territorial and municipal elections are held by secret ballot, but the rules are not the same as those for federal elections. It is important to find out the rules for voting in provincial, territorial and local elections so that you can exercise your right to vote.

Government	Elected Officials	Some Responsibilities
Federal	Members of Parliament (MPs)	National Defence Foreign Policy Citizenship Policing Criminal Justice International Trade Aboriginal Affairs Immigration (shared) Agriculture (shared) Environment (shared)
Provincial and Territorial	Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) or Members of the National Assembly (MNA) or Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) or Members of the House of Assembly (MHA)	Education Health Care Natural Resources Highways Policing Property and Civil Rights Immigration (shared) Agriculture (shared) Environment (shared)
Municipal (local)	Mayor or Reeve Councillors or Aldermen	Social and Community Health Recycling Programs Transportation and Utilities Snow Removal Policing Firefighting Emergency Services

The First Nations have band chiefs and councillors who have major responsibilities on First Nations reserves, including housing, schools and other services. There are a number of provincial, regional and national Aboriginal organizations which are a voice for First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in their relationships with the federal, provincial and territorial governments.

How much do you know about your government?

Use these pages to take notes and to study important information.

Federal Government

Head of State:
__________________________________________________

The name of the representative of the Queen of Canada, the Governor General, is
__________________________________________________

The Head of Government, the Prime Minister, is __________________________________________________

The name of the political party in power is __________________________________________________

The name of the Leader of the Opposition is __________________________________________________

The name of the party representing Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition is __________________________________________________

The names of the other opposition parties and leaders are __________________________________________________

My Member of Parliament (MP) in Ottawa is __________________________________________________

My federal electoral district is called ________________________________________________________

Provincial Government

The name of the representative of the Queen for my province, the

The representative of the Queen in my province, the Lieutenant Governor, is
__________________________________________________

The Head of Government (the Premier) is __________________________________________________

The name of the provincial party in power is __________________________________________________

The names of the provincial opposition parties and leaders are __________________________________________________

My provincial representative is __________________________________________________

Territorial Government

The name of the Commissioner, who represents the federal government in my territory, is
__________________________________________________

The name of the Premier is
__________________________________________________

The name of my territorial representative is __________________________________________________

Municipal Government

The name of the municipality where I live is __________________________________________________

The name of the head of the municipal government (mayor or reeve) is __________________________________________________

 

<< Contents | Previous | Next >>