Our Government: A Quick Refresher

In Nova Scotia and in Canada we have representative government. Members of the Nova Scotia Legislature and the Parliament of Canada are elected in individual constituencies – or ridings – across the country. The political party that elects the most members forms the government. The leader of the that party becomes the Premier, or Prime Minister, who in turn selects a cabinet from among other elected members, usually of his or her own party. The Premier (or Prime Minister) and Cabinet is the executive branch of government. (Members of the Senate of Canada are also frequently members of cabinet.)

1. Nova Scotia

The Nova Scotia House of Assembly is made up of 52 members, elected in 52 electoral districts. They are MLAs, or Members of the Legislative Assembly. The legislature is where the laws of the province are made. No law can be made without the consent of a majority of MLAs.

While the party that wins the most seats (ridings) generally forms the government, and the leader of that party becomes Premier, minority governments have become common in Nova Scotia. A minority government is almost always the party with the most seats in the House of Assembly, but less than half the seats. This means the government must be supported by members outside the governing party in order to pass its budget and laws.

It is not hard to see how the decisions of the provincial government affect our everyday lives. The "province" (as the provincial government is often called) decides which roads will be built or paved; where schools and hospitals will be built or closed; appoints most of the judges; decides how much money to give to universities and colleges and much more.

The Queen's representative in Nova Scotia is called the Lieutenant Governor. Though a mostly ceremonial function, the Lieutenant Governor signs bills into law and performs other important tasks.

2. Canada

The federal government is formed by the party that wins the most seats (ridings) in the House of Commons, in the Parliament of Canada. There are 308 ridings across Canada, and one MP, or Member of Parliament, is elected from each riding. The Prime Minister is the leader of the party with the most seats in the Commons. Parliament also includes the Senate of Canada. Senators are appointed by the Prime Minister (by the Governor General on advice from the Prime Minister) and may keep their senate seat until they are 75 years old.

As in the provincial legislature, laws, budgets and other matters must pass Parliament to be in force in Canada. That means they must pass both the Commons and the Senate.

The federal government (sometimes referred to as "Ottawa" which is Canada's capital city and the home of Parliament) has responsibility in such areas as national defense, monetary policy (Ottawa prints the money); international relations; and national transportation. But the federal government truly reaches into most all areas of public services in the country. The federal government transfers vast amounts of money to the provinces and territories to help pay for health care, education and other services.

While the Prime Minister is the head of the government; the Governor General is the head of state in Canada. She (or he) performs a great many ceremonial functions, but has real powers, too. For example, the Governor General can dissolve parliament and call a federal election. S/he must sign all bills passed by Parliament before they are laws.

3. Municipalities (city, town, county)

Local government in Nova Scotia is provided by city, town and rural municipal (often county) councils. These councils are led by mayors or wardens. Municipal councilors are elected from geographic districts, much like MLAs or MPs are elected from geographic constituencies. All eligible voters in the municipality can vote for mayor.

Local municipal governments provide local or "property" services, like water and sewer systems, garbage collection, local police services, local street maintenance and plowing.

The only tax municipalities may levy are property-related taxes. The provincial and federal governments have much more taxing ability, including income and sales taxes.