Assignment (Pol 101)

Submitted To

Saifuddin Ahmed
Associate Professor, North South University

Submitted By

Nahian Mushfique Turja

ID Number: 2212607030,
Section: 45, BBA, North South University

Date of submission: 24th October, 2023

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 Table of Contents
Introduction of Canada .............................................................................................................. 3
Government/Political System .................................................................................................... 5
Government Structure ................................................................................................................ 6
Electoral Process ........................................................................................................................ 8
People’s Life and Living in Canada......................................................................................... 11
Understanding/Own Views ...................................................................................................... 13
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 14
References ................................................................................................................................ 15

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 Introduction of Canada

Canada a country famous for Maple Leaf is located in North America. Canada is a large
country that covers a large portion of North America. To the south and northwest, it has a
land border with the contiguous United States, as well as the state of Alaska. Canada is
bounded to the east by the Atlantic Ocean and to the west by the Pacific Ocean; the Arctic
Ocean sits to the north (Agency, 23rd May, 2011). Northeastern Greenland shares a boundary
with Hans Island. Canada and the French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon,
the last remaining part of New France, share a maritime boundary to the southeast. (Gallay,
2018). Canada is the second-largest country in the world by total area (including its oceans),
right after Russia. Canada is ranked fourth in the world by land area alone, but this is because
it has the highest proportion of freshwater lakes worldwide (Battram, 12 April, 2016). Only
two of Canada's thirteen provinces and territories—Alberta and Saskatchewan—are
landlocked, with the remaining eleven all having a direct border with one of the country's
three oceans.

Canada's population is projected to be 38.78 million at the moment, which is 0.48 percent of
the world's total population. Canada ranks number 38 on the list by population
(Population , 2023).

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Every five years, on the first and sixth of each decade, Statistics Canada conducts a
nationwide census to gather demographic statistics. 36,991,981 people were counted overall
in Canada in the 2021 census, up 5.2% over the previous year (Census Profile, 2022). Two-
thirds of the 1.7 million population growth in Canada between May 2011 and May 2016
came from immigration (Campion-Smith, February 8, 2017).

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2022. (Population of

Canada, 2022)

 One birth every 1 minutes

 One death every 2 minutes
 One net migrant every 2 minutes
 Net gain of one person every 1 minute

Death rate

8.12 deaths/1,000 population (2022 EST) Country comparison to the world: 81

Net migration rate

5.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 EST) Country comparison to the world: 21st

Urbanization

Urban population: 81.8% of total population (2022)

Rate of urbanization: 0.95% annual rate of change (2020–25 EST)

Canada's two official languages, English and French, are at the heart of who we are as
Canadians. French - 22.8% , English - 75.4% , Neither – 1.8%. (Statistics on official
languages in Canada, 2019)

Freedom and plurality of religion are encouraged in Canadian society. As long as their
behaviors do not violate the law, every Canadian citizen is free to profess any religion.
Although there isn't a recognized national religion, Christianity has dominated the population
ever since colonization (Evason, 2016).
Canadian culture is a mixture of British, French, and American influences, all of which blend
and sometimes compete in every aspect of cultural life, from filmmaking and writing to
cooking and playing sports (Geography & Travel, n.d.). Canadians value equality, respect,

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safety, peace, and nature. In Canada, women and men have equal legal rights. One of the first
nations in the world to allow same-sex unions was Canada. The LGBTQ+ community's rights
are safeguarded by Canadian law. The Charter is regarded as a crucial component of
Canadian values by the populace. The first people to greet immigrants to what is now known
as Canada were the indigenous peoples. One in five Canadians today were born outside of
their country. The parents and grandparents of a great number of people were not born in
Canada. Individuals travel to Canada carrying their customs and cultures with them. Canada
has extremely low crime rates and is a safe country (What are Canadian Values?, 2020).

Government/Political System

Canada's federal system of parliamentary government, steeped in democratic traditions, is the

framework within which its politics operate (Boyd, January 1,1657, p. 109). The monarch
serves as head of state in Canada, which is a constitutional monarchy. In actuality, the
executive powers are managed by the Cabinet, which is composed of Crown ministers chosen
and led by the Prime Minister of Canada and answerable to the elected House of Commons.
(Tidridge, 1867, p. 58).

The head of the government remains the Prime Minister here. As a constitutional
monarch, the king or queen doesn't "rule" the country. However, as Canada's Head of State,

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he remains a fundamental part of Canada's system of government (The Crown in Canada,
2022).

Government Structure

Canada’s system of government has three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the
judicial. Each one has separate powers and responsibilities that are defined in the
Constitution: the legislative branch passes laws, the executive implements them, and the
judicial interprets them.

The Legislative Brunch: Canada's federal legislature is called Parliament. It consists of the
Senate, the House of Commons, and the Monarch (represented by the Governor General).
Legislation is proposed, reviewed, and passed by members of the Senate and House of
Commons to become law. All bills must be approved by the Senate and the House of
Commons in the same format and obtain royal assent from the governor general or a designee
in order to become law. To represent Canada's provinces and territories, the Governor
General appoints senators on the Prime Minister's recommendation.Senators study and report
on significant issues, introduce bills, improve legislation, and suggest changes to bills.
Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected by Canadians to represent different areas of the
country called constituencies. MPs spend much of their time debating, voting, participating in
committees, and representing the concerns of their constituents. Like senators, they also
introduce bills, refine legislation, and suggest amendments to Senate bills.

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The Executive Branch: The Prime Minister, the Cabinet, and the Monarch (as represented
by the Governor General) comprise the Executive Branch. In Canada, the Monarch is
represented by the Governor General. Among their significant constitutional duties are
putting legislation into effect, calling and adjourning Parliament, and ordaining the Prime
Minister and Cabinet.

The head of state is the prime minister. They frequently serve as MPs, leaders of Cabinets,
and leaders of political parties. The Prime Minister appoints members of the Cabinet, sets the
government's agenda, and directs the creation of policies.

The Cabinet drafts laws to make the policies it develops for national governance enforceable.
Cabinet ministers are usually in charge of a government agency. They give a report to
Parliament outlining the operations of their department. They also give their departments
guidance on how to create and carry out official policies.

The Judicial Branch:

 The federal, provincial, and territorial courts, administrative boards, and tribunals
comprise the judicial branch. It is not connected to the executive or legislative
branches.
 The Supreme Court of Canada is Canada's highest court and last resort for appeals. It
therefore has the last word in significant matters involving both public and private
law. In addition to reviewing significant legal issues referred to it by the Governor in
Council, it hears appeals pertaining to rulings rendered by the federal, provincial, and
territorial courts of appeal. Federal laws, including those pertaining to tax
assessments, intellectual property, and maritime law, are the focus of the federal court
system. It consists of the Federal Court of Appeal, the Tax Court, and the Federal
Court.
 The majority of Canadian courts are provincial and territorial courts, which are
established by the respective legislatures. The majority of criminal offenses, as well as
civil and family law cases, are handled by these courts. There are three tiers of courts
in almost every province and territory: lower, superior, and appeal. (PARLIAMENT
of CANADA, 2023)

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 Electoral Process

In Canada, citizens elect their representatives to the House of Commons and the Senate. The
House of Commons is the lower house of Parliament, and the Senate is the upper house

Canada uses a "first-past-the-post" electoral system, meaning the candidate with the most
votes in each electoral district (riding) wins the seat. There is no minimum vote requirement
to win a seat.

To vote in a federal election, one must be a Canadian citizen, one must to be18 years old on
Election Day, and register to vote. One can register through online, by phone, or by mail.

There are four ways to vote in a federal election:

Step 1: Dissolution of Parliament

Before candidates hit the campaign trail and voters go to the polls, the government has to end all
business in Parliament. Dissolution is the process of stopping parliamentary business to prepare for
an election.
 The Prime Minister asks the Governor General to dissolve Parliament.
 The Governor General directs the Chief Electoral Officer to issue the writs of election. (A
writ is a formal written order that tells election officers in each riding to hold an election.)
 The Chief Electoral Officer issues the writs.
 Elections Canada sends a preliminary list of voters to the returning officers. This list tells
them who is registered to vote in their riding.
Step 2: Nomination of Candidates
Political parties need to choose candidates to run in an election. As soon as the election writs are
issued, each party must decide who will be its candidate for each riding. A candidate can also run
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for election without being affiliated with a party, as either an “independent” candidate or a
candidate with “no affiliation.”

The right to run in a federal election is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms.

Basic requirements to become a candidates are:

 You must be a Canadian citizen.

 You must be at least 18 years old on Election Day.
 You must not be:
o a person who is not qualified as an elector
o a member of the legislative assembly of a province or territory
o the Chief Electoral Officer
o a judge appointed by the Governor General
o an election officer, or
o A person who is imprisoned in a correctional institution.
 You must submit either a Nomination Paper or an online nomination form to Elections
Canada.

Step 3: Campaigning
Once the election writs are issued, candidates start campaigning. The election or campaign period
must be at least 37 days and no more than 51 days.

During the campaign, the goal of the parties and candidates is to convince voters that they are the
best party or person for the job. To do this, parties and candidates:

 promote their platform (usually this is a document that parties use to tell voters about their
goals, ideas, and principles—it is a way for parties to put in writing what they would do if
they are elected)
 go door to door in their riding to meet with voters, and
 Take part in debates with candidates of other parties.

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Step 4: Voting
Voting is an important civic duty. To vote in a federal election, you must be a Canadian citizen, at
least 18 years old on Election Day, and registered to vote.

There are several ways to vote:

 Vote on election day

 Vote on advanced polling days
 Vote at any Elections Canada office
 Vote by mail
In-person voting at polling stations is the most common way to vote. On average, Elections
Canada has 20,000 polling stations across Canada during an election.

The voting process

Everyone votes in secret. They have the right to choose their preferred candidate free of anyone
else’s influence.
 To vote, people must show proof of their identity and address.
 Each voter gets a ballot from an election officer.
 The voter takes the ballot behind a voting screen and marks an X beside the name of their
chosen candidate.
 The voter places their ballot in a ballot box.

Step 5: Counting and Results

Once the polls close, it is time to count the ballots and find out who won. During this time, the
doors of the polling station are locked: no one is allowed to enter or leave until the counting is
done.
 First, election officers open the ballot boxes and count the ballots.
 The election officers record the number of votes for each candidate on a Statement of the
Vote. They also record the number of rejected ballots.
 The ballots and other election documents are sealed in the ballot box and delivered to the
returning officer.
In most cases, a clear winner emerges after the ballots are counted, but sometimes the vote count is
very close or even tied. If there is a tie or a close vote, the ballots need to be counted again in a
judicial recount. For example, in an electoral district with 40,000 votes cast, a judicial recount

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would be required if a candidate won by fewer than 40 votes. A judge presides over these
recounts.

For some people, the most exciting part of the election process is the announcing of the results.

 On election night, once the polls in a riding are closed, preliminary results are announced
and published on Elections Canada’s website as they become available.
 These results are shared by media outlets, such as TV stations, newspapers, and social
media.
 Every returning officer validates the results and announces them to the candidates.

Step 6: Parliament Resumes

Once the votes are counted and the results announced, Canadians learn who their government will
be. The candidate who receives the most votes in their riding becomes the Member of Parliament
(MP) and represents the riding in the House of Commons. The political party that has the most
MPs usually forms the government. The leader of that party normally becomes the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister and their party will serve as the Government of Canada until Parliament is
dissolved and the election process starts again. (Elections Step by Step, 2023)

People’s Life and Living in Canada

Canadians generally enjoy a high standard of living, with access to quality education,
healthcare, and social services. The country has a strong economy and a low crime rate.
Canadians are also known for their friendly and welcoming nature.

Education: Canada is known to have one of the best education systems in the world. Each of
Canada's 13 provinces and territories runs its own school system and follows government
standards to ensure high-quality public education across the country. School is mandatory
from about the age of 6 years old to 18 years old (Understand the Canadian education system,
2023).

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 HealthCare: Healthcare in Canada is delivered through the provincial and territorial systems
of publicly funded health care, informally called Medicare (CBC News in Depth: Health
Care). Canadians consider universal access to publicly funded health services as a
"fundamental value that ensures national health care insurance for everyone wherever they
live in the country (Romanow, January 9, 2021, p. 392)

Multiculturalism: Canada is a multicultural country, with over 20% of Canadians being born
outside of Canada. The country is home to people from all over the world, and its culture
reflects this diversity.

Quality of life: Canadians enjoy a long life expectancy, good health, and access to education,
healthcare, and other social services. Canada also has a low crime rate and a clean
environment.

Economy: Canada's economic condition is generally strong, with low unemployment and
low inflation. However, the country is facing a number of challenges, including an aging
population, a rising cost of living, and the need to invest in infrastructure.

Here are some key statistics about the Canadian economy:

 GDP per capita: $54,966.5 (2022)

 Unemployment rate: 5.2% (August 2023)
 Inflation rate: 6.8% (August 2023)
 Poverty rate: 13.7% (2021)

(Statistique Canada, 2023)

Except for all these positive factors Canadians face some issues as well such as immigration
policies, corporation accountability, Rights of Indigenous Canadians, religious freedom,
violence against Indigenous women and children, Rights of Migrants, Unlawful transfer of
weapons, etc. (Higa, 2022)

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 Understanding/Own Views

Canada which is a country in the North American sub-continent follows the Constitutional
Monarchy which is considered a limited monarchy as well. Here king/queen (Governor
General -representative of the Monarch) is considered as the head of state but as it follows
Constitutional Monarchy the head of government is The Prime Minister who has been elected
by the people’s vote. As a constitutional monarch, the king or queen doesn't "rule" the
country. However, as Canada's Head of State, he remains a fundamental part of Canada's
system of government.

Canada is fully democratic as people here elect their representatives and give them the license
to run the country. However, as a federal state, responsibility for law-making in Canada is
shared among one federal, ten provincial, and three territorial governments.

Due to the executive branch's separation from the legislative branch, Canada has a more
flexible separation of powers than certain other nations. In the House of Commons, the
majority party is normally led by the prime minister, who serves as head of state. The
branches are independent, but they also rely on each other to some extent. For instance, the
judicial branch makes sure that the legislative and executive branches uphold the Constitution
and the rule of law, and the executive branch needs the support of the legislative branch to
continue in power. In this sense, the division of powers in Canada operates within the
confines of its parliamentary system, upholding separate but complementary roles and
responsibilities.

By using a "first-past-the-post" electoral system and following 6 steps Canada runs their
electoral process fairly.

Also, Canadians generally enjoy a high standard of living, with access to quality education,
healthcare, and social services with a low crime rate which indicates that the government
functions are doing well though they face some issues as well such as immigration policies,
corporation accountability, Rights of Indigenous Canadians, religious freedom etc.

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 Conclusion
In conclusion, Canada, with its vast expanse of territory and diverse population, offers a high
standard of living and a quality of life that ranks among the best in the world. This North
American nation is characterized by a robust economy, a well-regarded education system,
universal healthcare, and a society that embraces multiculturalism. The Canadian people
benefit from a sense of safety and a strong commitment to democratic values.

Canada's government system, rooted in democratic traditions, is a federal parliamentary

constitutional monarchy. The executive branch, led by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, is
responsible for governing the country, with the monarch serving as the symbolic head of
state.

The country's three-tiered government structure encompasses the legislative branch,

executive branch, and judicial branch, with each branch fulfilling specific roles and
responsibilities outlined in the Constitution. The legislative branch, composed of the Senate
and the House of Commons, creates and passes laws. The executive branch, led by the Prime
Minister, implements policies and oversees government operations. The judicial branch,
including federal, provincial, and territorial courts, interprets the law and ensures its proper
application.

Canada's electoral process involves a series of well-defined steps, including the dissolution of
Parliament, the nomination of candidates, the campaigning period, the voting process, and the
counting of ballots. This democratic process ultimately leads to the formation of the
government, with the leader of the political party securing the most seats in the House of
Commons becoming the Prime Minister.

The Canadian people enjoy a high quality of life, characterized by accessible education,
universal healthcare, and a welcoming and diverse society. The nation's economy is robust,
with low unemployment and inflation rates. Canada's commitment to democratic values,
equality, and multiculturalism reflects the core principles that underpin the Canadian way of
life. In summary, Canada stands as a shining example of a nation that successfully combines
democratic governance, economic prosperity, and a commitment to inclusivity and diversity,
making it a country that continues to be highly regarded on the world stage.

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 References
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Battram, R. A. (12 April, 2016). Canada in Crisis: An Agenda for Survival of the Nation.
Boyd, N. (January 1,1657). Canadian Law, 6th ed. (Canadian ed.). Nelson Education.
Campion-Smith, B. (February 8, 2017). Immigration fuels Canada’s population growth of 1.7
million in five years: latest census. Toronto Star.
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The Crown in Canada. (14 December, 2022). Retrieved from Government of Canada:
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values.aspx#:~:text=Canadians%20value%20equality%2C%20respect%2C%20safety
,and%20we%20love%20our%20hockey!

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