Politics and the Canadian Prime Minister
The canadian prime minister is the head of the entire country of Canada and the head of cabinet. The prime minister, the Governor General, and other members of the house of commons are all chosen and elected under terms that closely resemble the British government model. The canadian prime minister is the leader of the political party that holds the largest amount of seats in the house of commons, and is not elected based on the majority vote.
After he or she is put into office, they remain in office until their resignation, dismissal, death, or another election. The requirements to become a part of the house of commons and to run for a position such as the canadian prime minister are to being at least 18 years of age, a citizen of canada, and gaining enough political support to win an election into the house of commons.
The “head of state” as the prime minister is often referred to as, is the most powerful and influential individual in office at the time of their term. The role was adapted from the prime minister’s role in the UK, and has been altered as canadian prime ministers have been given more extensive power in decision making than their British counterparts. Like the American president, the canadian prime ministers play a role similar to the “Commander in Chief” designation, and they are given oversight of the canadian military as a whole.
The primary appointer for the cabinet members is the governor general, who closely follows the guidance given by ministers and the prime minister when making decisions, forming the cabinet, and filling vacant seats of the supreme court of canada. Empty seats in the senate, presidents of canadian crown corporations, executive positions of establishments such as the Transportation Safety Board, Ambassadors to foreign countries, and the Lieutenant Governor are also appointed by the prime minister.
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Sir John A MacDonald - First Canadian Prime Minister
Sir John A MacDonald was the first canadian prime minister, and considered one the country’s founding fathers, responsible for the transcontinental railway. His rich political background led to his natural progression into office, and his life was held in the public eye since he was a young adult. By the age of 19, Sir John A MacDonald had graduated with a degree in law from Kingston, and held his own law firm as one of the country’s leading forces in law practice.
He was soon introduced into the growing political world of Canada, and became involved with the provincial political movement, acting on behalf of the conservative party. With the title of receiver general, Sir John A MacDonald was quickly gaining notoriety throughout the Canadian provinces as a dedicated activist for the conservative movement. Sir John A MacDonald became the co-founder of the liberal conservative party (now known as just the conservative party) and soon after gained the title of attorney general, his first large political role.
With the backbone of the Canadian government in its baby stages, Sir John A MacDonald was destined to fill the most pivotal role in Canada’s political establishment. With the parties forming and the government coming into being, the position of canadian prime minister was filled by Sir John A MacDonald. The major issues faced as the first prime minister were matters of building up the nation. He was given the power to add new provinces to the Canadian territory, and added Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and British Columbia as some of his first actions in office. He also began work on the transcontinental railway which was eventually completed in his second term in office.
His first term as canadian prime minister ended, and soon after was followed by an economic depression. This coincidence led to his second win and entrance back as the head of state in 1878. There he served for close to the remainder of his life, and before his death was able to elect his son into the house of commons to proceed with his political legacy.
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Stephen Harper - Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper, canada’s prime minister started out his political career as executive assistant to the progressive conservative MP John Hawkes. This position led to his role as the chief policy officer for the reform party. This knowledge, along with his next role as the legislative assistant to the reform party’s first MP, Deborah Gray, and his first election to the house of commons as the reform party’s MP for Calgary west, led him through the chain of command, climbing his way to canadian prime minister.
This very substantial position gave Stephen Harper the responsibility of advising canada’s finance and national unity policy. In 1997 he chose to take a five year break from politics, and then returned to claim the title of the leader of the canadian alliance party in 2002. The same year he was elected to the house of commons in Calgary. In December of 2003, he unified the alliance and the progressive conservative parties to become known as the conservative party.
Stephen Harper resigned as the leader of the canadian alliance, and took on the task of running for the leader of the new conservative party of canada the following year. In February of 2006, he was sworn in as the canadian prime minister. He is striving to maintain an independent and united country, and has proven himself to be a canadian prime minister for the people, and has been named as an honorary member of the International Raoul Wallenberg foundation. Stephen Harper’s goals in office are to lower taxes for the middle working class, and to reform the judicial system.
As a Toronto native, Stephen Harper is a canadian prime minister who understands the needs of the people, as he was once a working class citizen in the petroleum industry. He is a doctorate alumni student at the University of Calgary, and this hard-earned education supports his extensive political experience. He was named the president of the National Citizens Coalition, and he holds the hopes and aspirations of the Canadian nation in the highest regard.
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