<strong>How</strong> <strong>Canadians</strong> <strong>Govern</strong> <strong>Themselves</strong>defeated on a motion of want ofconfidence very early in the first sessionof a new Parliament, and there is areasonable possibility that a governmentof another party can be formed and getthe support of the House of Commons,then the <strong>Govern</strong>or General could refusethe request for a fresh election. Thesame is true for the Lieutenant-<strong>Govern</strong>ors of the provinces.No elected person in <strong>Canada</strong> abovethe rank of mayor has a “term” ofoffice. Members of Parliament or of aprovincial legislature are normallyelected for not more than five years,but there can be, and have been,Parliaments and legislatures that havelasted less than a year. The PrimeMinister can ask for a fresh election atany time but, as already stated, theremay be circumstances in which he orshe would not get it. The Cabinet hasno “term.” Every Cabinet lasts from themoment the Prime Minister is swornin till he or she resigns or dies. Forexample, Sir John A. Macdonald wasPrime Minister from 1878 until he diedin 1891, right through the electionsof 1882, 1887 and 1891, all of whichhe won. Sir Wilfrid Laurier was PrimeMinister from 1896 to 1911, rightthrough the elections of 1900, 1904 and1908, all of which he won. He resignedafter being defeated in the electionof 1911. The same thing has happenedin several provinces. An AmericanPresident or state <strong>Govern</strong>or, re-elected,has to be sworn in all over again. ACanadian Prime Minister or Premierdoes not.If a Prime Minister dies or resigns, theCabinet comes to an end. If this PrimeMinister’s party still has a majority inthe Commons or the legislature, thenthe <strong>Govern</strong>or General or Lieutenant-<strong>Govern</strong>or must find a new PrimeMinister at once. A Prime Minister whoresigns has no right to advise the<strong>Govern</strong>or as to a successor unlessasked; even then, the advice neednot be followed. If he or she resignsbecause of defeat, the <strong>Govern</strong>or mustcall on the Leader of the Opposition toform a government. If the PrimeMinister dies, or resigns for personalreasons, then the <strong>Govern</strong>or consultsleading members of the majority partyas to who will most likely be able toform a government that can commanda majority in the House. The <strong>Govern</strong>orthen calls on the person he or she hasdecided has the best chance. This newPrime Minister will, of course, holdoffice only until the majority party haschosen a new leader in a national orprovincial convention. This leader willthen be called on to form a government.The Cabinet consists of a varyingnumber of Ministers. The nationalCabinet ranges from 20 to 40 members,and provincial Cabinets from about 10to over 30. Most of the Ministers have“portfolios” (that is, they are in chargeof particular departments — Finance,Foreign Affairs, Environment, Health,etc.), and are responsible, answerableand accountable to the House ofCommons or the legislature for theirparticular departments. There may alsobe Ministers of State, who normallyParliamentary <strong>Govern</strong>ment5
<strong>How</strong> <strong>Canadians</strong> <strong>Govern</strong> <strong>Themselves</strong>assist Cabinet Ministers with aparticular responsibility or section oftheir departments. At times there havealso been ministers without portfolio,and Ministers of State responsible formanaging policy-oriented bodiesknown as Ministries of State. In the1990s, assisting ministers weresometimes called Secretaries of State,not be confused with historicallyimportant departmental ministers onceknown by the titles Secretary of Statefor <strong>Canada</strong> or Secretary of State forExternal Affairs.a motion to decrease a tax or anexpenditure, and the House concernedcan pass it, though this hardlyever happens.The Ministers collectively are answerableto the House of Commons or thelegislature for the policy and con<strong>du</strong>ct ofthe Cabinet as a whole. If a Ministerdoes not agree with a particular policyor action of the <strong>Govern</strong>ment, he or shemust either accept the policy or actionand, if necessary, defend it, or resignfrom the Cabinet. This is known as “thecollective responsibility of the Cabinet,”and is a fundamental principle of ourform of government.6Parliamentary <strong>Govern</strong>mentThe Cabinet is responsible for mostlegislation. It has the sole power toprepare and intro<strong>du</strong>ce bills providingfor the expenditure of public moneyor imposing taxes. These bills must beintro<strong>du</strong>ced first in the House ofCommons; however, the House cannotinitiate them, or increase either the taxor the expenditure without a royalrecommendation in the form of amessage from the <strong>Govern</strong>or General.The Senate cannot increase either atax or an expenditure. <strong>How</strong>ever, anyMember of either House can move
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