Justice and

influencing
government

How Democratic is our

Democratic Country?

Any Orders-in-council?

These make laws or regulations without Parliamentary vote

Signed by the Governor General on advice of the Prime Minister and

Cabinet

Do not need to be debated and voted on in the House of Commons

Will you be proroguing Parliament?

A dirty word in Canada.

Ex. 2008 Harpers use as a coalition government loomed

A coalition government is one where there is a formal

agreement between parties to cooperate to govern

Purpose of the senate

Provide sober second thought to legislation that is proposed

Should provide thorough examination of legislation and hold the

government to account

Legislation is not passed unless it passes through the senate

It is expensive and some feel tainted by scandal and filled with

patronage appointments - flunkies

Judicial Branch

Provincial Courts

Each Province has:

Provincial and territorial courts that handle most cases that come
into the system

Superior courts that deal with more serious crimes

Appeal courts that review the decisions of both these courts

Provincial and territorial courts (superior courts)

Deal with more serious crimes and hear appeals from lower courts

Judicial Branch

Federal Courts

The Federal Court

Tax Court

Specializes in areas such as intellectual property, maritime law,

federal/provincial disputes and civil cases related to terrorism

Deals with hearing appeals from tax assessments

Federal Court of Appeal

Reviews the decisions of both these courts

Is the highest court of the land for 95% of cases

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court of Canada

Nine judges represent the four major regions of the country

(three must be from Quebec)

Final court of appeal

The Supreme Court has two main functions:

It hears appeals from decisions of the appeal courts in all the

provinces and territories, as well as from the Federal Court of Appeal.
Supreme Court judgments are final.

It decides important questions about the Constitution and

controversial or complicated areas of private and public law. The
government can also ask the Supreme Court for its opinion on
important legal questions

Influencing Government

Courts

Sue Rodriguez tried to get the right to die recognized

Pressure Groups

Lobbyists

Civil Disobedience

Influencing Government

Courts

Sue Rodriguez tried to get the right to die recognized

Pressure Groups

A group of like-minded people with shared beliefs who are trying

to influence government policies and decisions

Lobbyists

Civil Disobedience

Influencing Government

Courts

Pressure Groups

Sue Rodriguez tried to get the right to die recognized

A group of like-minded people with shared beliefs who are trying

to influence government policies and decisions

Lobbyists

They have the ear of government

They are paid to try to influence the people who make decisions

Civil Disobedience

Thank you for Smoking

Lobbyists
By the numbers
Number of communication reports filed with the Federal lobbyist
registry, from January to September 2012:
178:Canadian Association of Petroleum ProducersLobbied on:
pipeline regulation, streamlining of Fisheries Act, tax credits, Clean
Air Act related to greenhouse gas regulations
131:Canadian Bankers Association
Lobbied on: do-not-call list, identity theft laws, accounting rules,
corporate income tax, mortgage insurance
113:Canadian Cattlemens Association
Lobbied on: livestock carcass grading regulations, imports of nonNAFTA beef and veal, financial loan guarantees, animal health

Influencing Government

Courts

Pressure Groups

Sue Rodriguez tried to get the right to die recognized

A group of like-minded people with shared beliefs who are trying

to influence government policies and decisions

Lobbyists

They have the ear of government

They are paid to try to influence the people who make decisions

Civil Disobedience

Clayoquot Sound Protests

Three Principles of civil

disobedience

1. Civil disobedience should be non-violent

2. Civil disobedience should be directed against laws that are

seriously harmful

3. Civil disobedience requires that people take responsibility for

their actions (accepting punishment)

Homework

Read pages 290 to 296

Create a chart that compares methods for influencing

government

Contacting MPs individually

Pressure groups

Lobbyists

Using the court system

Civil disobedience

Using media

Use your text book and look

online
for details
Method
Componen
t
Strengths
of method
Weakness
es of
method
Your
opinion of
the
methods
efficacy