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."

← Back to Election Page

In This Page:

2 Candidate Responses (top)

Hamilton Mountain
CandidateBrief ResponseFull Response
Marie Bountrogianni Yes Contrary to legally inaccurate statements recently made by Stephen Harper, the government is not necessarily formed in Canadian parliamentary democracy by the party that wins the most seats. Rather, the government is formed by whatever party receives the endorsement (the affirming "confidence vote") of the House of Commons, by a vote by the majority of Members, of all parties.

If the party with the most seats does not receive that endorsement, then the Governor General is empowered by the Constitution to invite the Opposition to try to form a government, with the support of the House.

The Prime Minister is simply the leader of the governing party. He or she selects cabinet ministers generally from the MPs of the government, or sometimes from the Senate caucus of the governing party.
Stephen E. Brotherston No I’m sure your readers can figure this one out for themselves.

Response Summary (top)

Brief ResponseCount% of Total
Yes150.0%
No150.0%
Maybe00.0%

4 Candidates Have Not Responded (top)

Hamilton Mountain
Chris Charlton
Henryk Adamiec
Jim Enos
Terry Anderson