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The King: Charles Windsor (King Charles III)
Official “Head of State”, but holds only a symbolic, traditional position - therefore he has no real power
Symbolizes the rule of law
Everything he does is limited by our Constitution
Helps unite Canada under a “common heritage”
Took the throne in September 2022 after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II |
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The Governor General: Mary May Simon
Represents the King in Canada
Chosen by the Prime Minister, July 2021
Promotes Canadian unity
Has a ceremonial role: welcomes visiting heads of states and foreign dignitaries, represents Canada at world events
Signs all federal bills into law by providing “Royal Assent” on behalf of the Crown
Reads the Speech from the Throne – usually outlines why parliament is back in session |
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The Prime Minister: Justin Trudeau
Elected indirectly as PM by the people as leader of the winning party
Leads the government as well as his/her own party
The MP for the riding of Papineau in Montreal
Represents Canada around the world
Appoints Governor General, cabinet ministers, Supreme Court judges
Has the final say on all major government decisions, including how money is spent
Appoints top government officials
3rd consecutive term (currently a minority government) |
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Member of Parliament (MP) Federal Government ex: Marie-France Lalonde, riding of Orleans
Voted for and elected directly by the people
Each represents one area of the country called a “riding”
MP for our school’s riding: Orleans
There are 338 members, they meet in the House of Commons in Ottawa
Job is to make laws, control the country’s budget, debate issues that affect all of Canada, such as defense, criminal law,and foreign affairs |
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George Furey – currently the longest-serving Senator
Appointed by the Prime Minister; serve until the age of 75
Selected from each region of Canada
Consider laws passed by the House of Commons (MP’s) and can either change nothing, make some changes, or reject them all together
Given the nickname “sober second thought” |
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The Premier: Doug Ford (Ontario)Each province and territory has its own government leader called the Premier
An MPP, elected by party members prior to an election; the leader of the winning party in a provincial election
Leads the provincial government and his/her party
Is the MPP for Etobicoke North
Job is similar to the PM, but deals with provincial issues like education, health care delivery, and civil law
2nd consecutive majority government - won in 2018 and again in 2022 |
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The Lieutenant Governor: Edith Dumont (Ontario)Sworn in November 2023, replacing Elizabeth Dowdeswell
Represents the King in a province or territory (one representative in each of 13)
Appointed by the Governor General, recommended by the Prime Minister
Must sign provincials bills to make them law on behalf of the Crown
Pronounced “lef-tenant” (British tradition) |
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Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Orléans – Stephen Blais)Voted for and elected directly by the people
Each represents one area of the province called a “riding”
MPP for our school area riding
There are 124 ridings in Ontario
Have a very similar job to an MP, but only deals with provincial issues |
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Mayor: Mark Sutcliffe (Ottawa) ● Voted for directly by the people, often has no political party/affiliation
● Left his career in the media to win his first election in October 2022
● Head of city council for the municipality of Ottawa
● Looks after issues that affect the city like property taxes, police, fire, ambulance, parks, waste disposal, water, libraries, and city transit (OC Transpo)
● Ottawa is 1 of 444 Ontario municipalities |
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City Councillors: Laura Dudas, Ward 2 Matthew Luloff, Ward 1 Voted for directly by the people
Each councillor represents one area of the city called a “ward”
Sit on city council and work on the same issues as the mayor
24 wards in the city of Ottawa
Luloff is a former St. Matthew Tiger!
Our school is right on the boundary between Ward 1 and 2 |
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School Board Trustee: OCSB – Brian Coburn (Zone 3), Orleans/Cumberland Voted for directly by the people
Represents the different zones of a school board; advocates for the community
Student trustees hold a role as well (2 for OCSB)
There are 10 zones in the Ottawa Catholic School Board; St. Matthew CHS is in zone 3
76 publicly funded school boards in Ontario (English, French, Public, and Catholic)
Brian Coburn was acclaimed in the last municipal election |
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