520)SECTION 9: FEDERAL ELECTIONS; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney

Among the tens of thousands of people from six continents who visit my Blog there must be a significant number who may show an interest in becoming Canadian citizens now or in the future. Consequently I am showcasing on my Blog the Stephen Harper Conservative Government's magnificent new Citizenship Guide for prospective Canadian citizens unveiled on November 12th 2009, the day after Rememberance Day. When I read the online version of this booklet I came away feeling a deep sense of awe and admiration for the country I have lived in for the past 36 years, 5 as a landed immigrant and 31 as a citizen. Indeed this booklet should not just be required reading for prospective Canadians but also for established Canadian citizens of all ages. It's always refreshing to remind ourselves about our secular democracy-its evolution, history, system of government, regions, rights and responsibilities, justice system, economy, symbols, achievements and much, much more. The text of the booklet has been carefully researched and well written and the many photographs wisely chosen. While I have reproduced all the text from the Guide in the following Blogposts one cannot fully appreciate the material without also looking at the photographs and their captions. For that reason each Blogpost has two links to the original page on the Citizenship And Immigration Canada(CIC) website, one at the beginning and one at the end of the post.

On another forum I made the following comment to commemorate Rememberance Day on November 11th 2009: Canada is a stable secular democratic state with a solid, longstanding and admirable history. It is not a disparate bunch of autonomous multicultural fiefdoms as some political parties would have you beleive. Canada is the Magna Carta(1215), War of 1812, British North America Act(1867), Boer War(1899-1902), Vimy Ridge, Ypres and Paschendale(1914-1918), Dieppe, Monte Cassino, D-Day, Juno Beach, Belgium and Holland(1939-1945), Korean War(1950-1953), Cold War(1917-1989), Vietnam War(1960's) and Afghanistan(post 2001).


http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-09.asp

Discover Canada
The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

SECTION 8: 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.

(Picture): House of Commons chamber

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:

1)a Canadian citizen; and
2)at least 18 years old on voting day; and
3)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)

(Picture): House of Commons in session


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(See 8 pictures)

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 (http://www.elections.ca/).

(Picture)Provincial Assembly at Charlottetown, PEI



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.



(A)Government
(B)Elected Officials
(C)Some Responsibilities


(A)Federal
(B)Members of Parliament (MPs)
(C)National Defence
(C)Foreign Policy
(C)Citizenship
(C)Policing
(C)Criminal Justice
(C)International Trade
(C)Aboriginal Affairs
(C)Immigration (shared)
(C)Agriculture (shared)
(C)Environment (shared)



(A)Provincial and Territorial
(B)Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) or
(B)Members of the National Assembly (MNA) or
(B)Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) or
(B)Members of the House of Assembly (MHA)
(C)Education
(C)Health Care
(C)Natural Resources
(C)Highways
(C)Policing
(C)Property and Civil Rights
(C)Immigration (shared)
(C)Agriculture (shared)
(C)Environment (shared)



(A)Municipal (local)
(B)Mayor or Reeve
(B)Councillors or Aldermen
(C)Social and Community Health
(C)Recycling Programs
(C)Transportation and Utilities
(C)Snow Removal
(C)Policing
(C)Firefighting
(C)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 this page 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 __________________________________________________



http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-09.asp


Quotes Of Canadian Minister Of Citizenship, Immigration And Multiculturalism Hon. Jason Kenney(2009):

1)When you become a citizen, you're not just getting a travel document into Hotel Canada.
2)I think it's scandalous that someone could become a Canadian not knowing what the poppy represents, or never having heard of Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, Dieppe or Juno Beach.
3)We mention freedom of conscience and freedom of religion as important rights but we also make it very clear that our laws prohibit barbaric cultural practices, they will not be tolerated, whether or not someone claims that such practices are protected by reference to religion.
4)I think we need to reclaim a deeper sense of citizenship, a sense of shared obligations to one another, to our past, as well as to the future, a kind of civic nationalism where people understand the institutions, values and symbols that are rooted in our history.


Easy Nash