Politics of Canada
The institutions, parties, elections, policies, and public debates through which Canadians govern themselves and contest political power.
Canadian federalism: Canada’s division of governing authority between the federal government and provincial and territorial governments. Federalism structures disputes over jurisdiction, public services, and regional power.
Canadian federal election: A vote to elect members of the House of Commons and determine which party can form Canada’s federal government. Federal elections translate public support into seats and governing authority.
Canadian Confederation: The 1867 union of the Province of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia into the Dominion of Canada. Confederation established the federal framework that still structures Canadian politics.
First-past-the-post voting: An electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes in each district wins, without needing a majority. Canada’s federal elections use this rule, which can produce seat shares unlike vote shares.
Canadian Indian residential school system: A state-supported network of institutions that separated Indigenous children from their families to assimilate them into Euro-Canadian society. Its legacy drives demands for accountability, redress, and changes in Indigenous policy.
Parliament of Canada: Canada’s federal legislature, consisting of the Crown, the Senate, and the House of Commons. Parliament makes federal laws and holds the government to account.
House of Commons of Canada: The elected chamber of Canada’s Parliament, where members represent electoral districts and scrutinize the federal government. Its seat totals determine confidence and the government’s ability to legislate.
British North America Act, 1867: The British statute that created the Dominion of Canada and set out its initial federal institutions and powers. Its provisions formed the original constitutional basis of Confederation.
Proportional representation: Electoral systems that allocate seats to parties in closer proportion to their share of the vote. It is the principal alternative raised in Canadian debates about electoral reform.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: A commission that documented the history and lasting effects of Canada’s residential school system and issued Calls to Action. Its findings continue to shape public debate and government commitments.