Government

Government in Canada

The phrase “peace, order and good government” has real meaning to Canadians. It defines Canadian values. It is a phrase that truly articulates the journey toward peaceful accommodation throughout Canada's evolution as a country. This journey, in itself, is reason enough for Canadians to feel proud about Canada's accomplishments throughout its history.

Canada is a parliamentary democracy. It’s a system of government where the three branches of Parliament – the Governor General, the House of Commons and the Senate – debate laws before they vote on them. These branches are composed of both elected (House of Commons) and appointed (Governor General, Senate) members.

Canada is also a federation, which means that the work of governing the country is shared by the federal and provincial or territorial governments. Federalism allows the government of a country as large and diverse as Canada to meet the common needs of all citizens, while also being able to serve the special interests and characteristics of the country's various regions and cultural and linguistic communities.

Today, Canada is a world leader in peacekeeping and conflict resolution and is a model for democracy. It is also a country where the government is committed to upholding the values that make its people proud to wear the name “Canadian”.