Government
Its Origins
For every province there was a legislature, with
a lieutenant-governor representing the Queen;
Nova Scotia (which, till 1784, included what
for every province except Ontario, an appointed
is now New Brunswick) was the fi rst part of
upper house, the legislative council, and an
Canada to secure representative government.
elected lower house, the legislative assembly.
In 1758, it was given an assembly, elected by
The new Province of Manitoba, created by
the people. Prince Edward Island followed in
the national Parliament in 1870, was given an
1773; New Brunswick at its creation in 1784;
upper house. British Columbia, which entered
Upper and Lower Canada (the predecessors of
Canada in 1871, and Saskatchewan and Alberta,
the present Ontario and Quebec) in 1791; and
created by Parliament in 1905, never had upper
Newfoundland in 1832.
houses. Newfoundland, which entered Canada
in 1949, came in without one. Manitoba, Prince
Nova Scotia was also the fi rst part of Canada
Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
to win responsible government: government
and Quebec have all abolished their upper
by a cabinet answerable to, and removable by,
houses.
a majority of the assembly. New Brunswick
followed a month later, in February 1848;
How It Operates
the Province of Canada (a merger of Upper
and Lower Canada formed in 1840) in March
The Governor General (and each provincial
1848; Prince Edward Island in 1851; and
lieutenant-governor) governs through a cabinet,
Newfoundland in 1855.
headed by a prime minister or premier (the two
terms mean the same thing: fi rst minister). If
By the time of Confederation in 1867, this
a national or provincial general election gives
system had been operating in most of what is
a party opposed to the cabinet in offi
ce a clear
now Central and Eastern Canada for almost
majority (that is, more than half the seats) in
20 years. The Fathers of Confederation simply
the House of Commons or the legislature, the
continued the system they knew, the system
cabinet resigns and the Governor General or
that was already working, and working well.
lieutenant-governor calls on the leader of the
victorious party to become prime minister
and form a new cabinet. The prime minister
For the nation, there was a Parliament, with
chooses the other ministers, who are then
a Governor General representing the Queen;
formally appointed by the Governor General or,
an appointed upper house, the Senate; and an
in the provinces, by the lieutenant-governor. If
elected lower house, the House of Commons.
Parliamentary Government
3
How Canadians Govern Themselves
no party gets a clear majority, the cabinet that
In very exceptional circumstances, the
was in offi
ce before and during the election has
Governor General could refuse a request for
