What American's Ought to Know About Canada, But Don't

[Shi Huangdi]

How frequent is gerrymandering in Canada?

How long will it be before the conservatives win again in Canada?

[KrazyHorse]

The last time the Governor General had an impact on the selection of a PM was in 1926.

Google King Byng Affair

[Ben Kenobi]

Since all the seats need to be redistricted after the censuses, that's when any 'gerrymandering' can be done.

There's been allegations thrown around by both sides, folks in Alberta, like NYE, see the redistribution as an attempt to take away Liberal votes, but others have said the same for Conservatives in Ontario.

Me, it's just part of politics. Always has been and always will.

[monkspider]

Canadians have a fully-evolved pancreas, and the province of Sasketchawan is mentioned during one of the songs in "The Great Muppet Caper".

[Ben Kenobi]

How long will it be before the conservatives win again in Canada?

Give them another year of Liberal scandals.

[Imran Siddiqui]

That game was neither football nor rugby. The ball was moved through kicks. Picking up and carrying it was verboten.

And the game between McGill and Harvard was basically rugby . It was divided into two games, the first based on the 'Boston Rules', which was soccer. The second on the 'McGill rules' which was rugby with some different scoring.

What made the game between Rutgers and Princeton so different was that there were 25 players per side and it was full contact. It was a combination of rugby and soccer. And there definetly WAS picking up the ball.... you just had to kick for goals.

Basically neither were close to what we'd call football today, but both fight over which was 'first', even though it was probably an evolution.

Of course there may be some bias involved, but the NFL considers the Rutgers-Princeton game to be the first football match:

http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/content/ask_earl/page?d=20040802

[Ben Kenobi]

Actually, KH you are incorrect.

The King-Byng affair was not about the appointment of a PM, but rather, blocked the attempt by Mackenzie King to dissolve Parliament rather than face a censure vote in Parliament.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
How frequent is gerrymandering in Canada?

The chairman of the redistricting commission for a province is appointed by the chief justice of that province. His choice is limited to other judges in his province.

The other two members of the redistricting commission are appointed by the speaker of the house of commons.

Blatant gerrymandering isn't that common. The possibility exists of course, but ridings tend to make pretty good sense...

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
Actually, KH you are incorrect.

The King-Byng affair was not about the appointment of a PM, but rather, blocked the attempt by Mackenzie King to dissolve Parliament rather than face a censure vote in Parliament.

I know what the King Byng affair was. What I wrote is consistent with what occurred. I didn't directly answer Ramo's question because his question oversimplifies the powers of the governor general.

[Ben Kenobi]

And it can only happen in provinces with rising populations, like BC, Alberta and Ontario.

AFAIK, they do not redistribute provinces that do not increase their population.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
How is your executive selected?

There is the misery.

The PM is the leader of the party with the most seats in Parliament, usually. That person then takes on semi-dictatorial powers in the executive.

He (almost always) heads cabinet. Cabinet ministers are the bosses of the army, the police, the prosecutors, and every other important function of government. Cabinet ministers are subject to being sacked at a moments notice at the pleasure of the PM.

The PM appoints judges, without worry of confirmation proceedings such as is a hot topic in the US now and for the last 15 years or so.

The PM appoints Senators. The Senate is supposed to be the 'chamber of sober second thought' and a possible check on the tyranny of the Commons.

The PM is also the immediate superior of the head of the civil service (the Clerk of the Privy Council). That person also serves at the pleasure of the PM.

Finally, the PM pretty well appoints the Governor General. The GG is the last link to the tradition of Britain and the Empire. The GG is also the possible last line of defence in the face of a truely bad government. But alas, the PM appoints him or her.

If you want to know the truth, the PM of Canada is as a dictator in the Soviet Union would have dreamt to have been. Our defence against this concentration of power has been the decency of those who have held the office as well as the common sense of the courts and the various people in a position to put a break on excess.

But of course, the chattering classes continuously argue against any strengthening of the Senate. They seem to regard the Senate as a threat of some sort. Perhaps they do not want an empowered Senate if ever they get their hand on the power of the PMO.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
And it can only happen in provinces with rising populations, like BC, Alberta and Ontario.

AFAIK, they do not redistribute provinces that do not increase their population.

a) Untrue. Every census sees 10 redistricting commissions. Quebec underwent a redistricting this time around and as you should know it always has 75 seats

b) Provinces gain representation when they increase in size relative to Quebec (which itself has a rising population)

c) Representations are grandfathered to a specific date (cannot recall exactly). If Alberta started bleeding population it could lose seats down to a minimum (the amount it had on previously referred to date). Grandfathering does not take place after every census.

[notyoueither]

Oh, and the PM commands near total obedience in the making of important legislation.

Vote against the PM on an important bill, and be expelled from the party which means near certain defeat in the next election for an MP.

Did I mention that?

[KrazyHorse]

The PM only has as much power as his caucus gives him.

[KrazyHorse]

If a caucus is full of pussies then their electorates shouldn't have voted for them.