CANADA

1
CANADA

• Government
• Economics

2
Parliament vs. President

• Parliamentary
• Legislature(Parliament) controls the power
• Prime Minister
• Head of government
• Chosen by majority party in the legislature
• Stays in office for a designated period unless
  their party loses the majority
• Fusion of powers

• Presidential
• Executive and Legislative branches are separate
• Separation of powers
• Checks and Balances between 3 branches (They
  share power.)
• President is elected by the voters after a
  specific amount of time

3
Canadian Government

• Canadas capital is Ottawa
• Government can be described several ways
• Constitutional monarchy
• They have a written constitution that outlines
  the rights of citizens and how the government is
  organized.
• Federal government (Federation)
• They have both national and provincial
  governments that share political powers (division
  of political powers)
• Federal government responsible for national
  defense, trading, banking, immigration, criminal
  law and postal services.
• Provincial governments responsible for education,
  property rights, local government, hospitals and
  provincial taxes.
• Parliamentary democracy
• They have a democratic government with a two
  house legislature called Parliament
• Parliament can be dissolved by the Prime Minister
  and new elections held, if the government isnt
  working well.

4
Whos in Charge?
5
Chief of State Queen Elizabeth II
Governor General David Johnston
Prime Minster Stephen Harper
6
What do they do?

• Legislative Branch
• Parliament . . . Controls the power
• Makes the laws
• Executive Branch
• Prime Minister . . . Leader of majority party in
  Parliament
• Stays in power as long as his party hold the
  majority in Parliament
• If party loses power, Prime Minister must resign
  and new elections are held
• Enforces the laws
• Judicial Branch
• Interprets the laws

• Key Figures
• Chief of State
• Monarch
• Head of Government (chief executive)
• Prime Minister
• Governor-General
• Appointed by the Monarch
• 5 year term

7
Role of the Citizen

• Right to vote 18 years old
• Several political parties to choose from.
• Elect representatives to the provincial
  parliaments
• Bloc Quebecois, Conservative Party of Canada,
  Green Party, Liberal Party, New Democratic Party
• Personal Rights and Freedoms
• Freedom of Speech, Religion Press
• Right to a fair trial
• Equal rights

8
Canadian Economics
9
Review . . . Types of Economies
TYPES OF ECONOMIC SYSTEMS TYPES OF ECONOMIC SYSTEMS TYPES OF ECONOMIC SYSTEMS TYPES OF ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
Definition Associated Terms Examples in Practice
1) Market economy An economic system in which individuals own and operate the factors of production. Free enterpriseCapitalism
2) Command economy An economic system in which the government owns and operates the factors of production. SocialismCommunism CubaChina
3) Traditional economy An economic system based upon customs and traditions. Economy is based upon agriculture and hunting. Non-IndustrializedAgrarian societies Haiti Australian Aborigines
4) Mixed economy An economic system that has features of both market and command economies. United StatesGreat BritainJapan
10
Canadas Economy

• Canada has a mixed market economy
• Dominated by the service industry
• Large manufacturing and mining industries
• Has transformed from a rural economy to a more
  urban industrial economy
• Government controlled health care and postal
  services
• Canada benefits greatly from trade
• Timber and oil are traded internationally
• Canadas largest trading partner is the U.S.
• 82 of their exports go to the U.S., and 55 of
  their imports come from the U.S.
• Canadas reliance on exports to the U.S. makes it
  interdependent, meaning it needs another country
  for economic success.

11
NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)

• 3 countries involved
• USA, Mexico, Canada
• Has greatly increased Canadas economic growth
  eliminated trade barriers
• Purpose
• Increase trade between member nations by creating
  a large free-trade zone (remove trade barriers)
• Remove tariffs, quotas, embargo
• Key Functions between member nations
• Eliminate tariffs on goods shipped
• Remove restrictions on investment
• Remove custom barriers at border crossings
• (make it easier for trucks to pass into Mexico)
• Establish tough standards for environmental,
  health and safety regulations in industries
• Improve working conditions

12
Specialization Opportunity Cost

• Specialization
• Focus on producing one or two goods really well
• Advantages
• Produce goods in less time
• Produce goods for less money
• Opportunity Cost
• Value of what is given up when a choice is made

• Example of Opportunity Cost
• Received 50 for your birthday
• Spend on video games
• Save for future purchases
• Decided to save money for future purchase
• Opportunity Cost the value of the video game
  you didnt purchase
• We make decisions all the time.
• Ride the bus or walk to school
• Ice cream or extra pizza

13

• How does a country raise its GDP?
• Invest in human capital
• Education and skills training
• Smarter people leads to a more productive
  workforce
• Increase economic growth.
• Literacy rate is used to determine the
  educational level of people . . .
• Higher the literacy rate. . . Higher the GDP
• Canada uses tax money to provide free health care
  and a free college education to all Canadians!
• Invest in capital resources
• Provides workers with the most current and
  updated tools.
• New factories, computers, roads
• Increases productivity and economic growth
• Canadas GDP
• 1.319 trillion (15th in the world)

14

• What role do entrepreneurs play in the success of
  a countrys economy?
• Generate new ideas
• Invest in human, capital and natural resources
• Willing to take risks
• Help countries adapt to changing trends
• How long does it take to start a business in
  Canada?
• Average of 5 days . . . . World average is 38 days