Elections

Please explain how the Prime Minister and cabinet are formed in the Canadian Parliamentary system.

Responses to the question: "Please explain how the Prime Minister and cabinet are formed in the Canadian Parliamentary system."

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3 Candidate Responses (top)

Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale
CandidateBrief ResponseFull Response
Jamile Ghaddar Yes Canada is a constitutional monarchy, whereby sovereignty is vested in the Queen. The Queen's representative, in the form of the Governor General appoints the Prime Minister who by convention is the leader of the Party with the most seats in the House of Commons. S/he also appoints the Cabinet, based on the selection of the Prime Minister.

The Constitution which vests sovereignty in the Queen absolutely while enshrining the rights of the people on a limited basis (i.e. within reasonable limits) is archaic and no longer capable of meeting the demands of the Canadian people for new and modern arrangements which enshrine rights on the basis of being human.
Nancy MacBain Yes Canada is a constitutional monarchy. Governor General normally asks the party with the most seats to form a government The leader of that party becomes the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister selects cabinet ministers from his or her own caucus.

If a minority government looses the confidence of the House, the Governor General can invite another party attempt to form the government. In this case, the Prime Minister would be the leader of the party asked to form the government (not the leader of the party with the most seats).
Peter Ormond Yes Right now, MPs are elected using a first-past-the-post system. Around the world, many countries have a more democratic system that allows for the proportion of representatives in government to be representative of the diverse range of citizen voices. Of the five Canadian political parties that receive funding, the Green Party was the only one NOT included in the televised leadership debate this year. Imagine how Elizabeth May's presence would have changed the entire tone of that discussion? The existing main political parties, media conglomerates and corporate stakeholders do not want E-May in the debate because her perspective and maternal voice will shake the very foundation of Canada's current old boy's network. During this election, Canadians aren't learning about real solutions to real issues. Instead, the issues aren't being discussed, media soundbites control the electorate, and the system rolls on unchallenged, and unchanged. That's why we need Green Votes now more than ever.

Response Summary (top)

Brief ResponseCount% of Total
Yes3100.0%
No00.0%
Maybe00.0%

3 Candidates Have Not Responded (top)

Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale
Anthony Giles
Dave Braden
David Sweet