Why Does Voting Matter?

RidingsCanada is divided

into 308 federal Ridings (or Electoral Districts)Riding

(Constituency) – a clearly defined geographic area for political purposes

A riding contains approximately 100,000 people

RidingsBecause ridings are based on population,

some are geographically large while others are small

Ridings

Kitchener-Conestoga

District District numbernumber RegionRegion AreaArea Population**Population**

Polling Polling divisionsdivisions

Number of Number of electors electors on listson lists

3503835038 Ontario Ontario RegionRegion 996 km996 km22 96,70896,708 190190 71,52271,522

Kitchener-Waterloo

District District numbernumber RegionRegion AreaArea Population**Population**

Polling Polling divisionsdivisions

Number of Number of electors electors on listson lists

3503935039 Ontario Ontario RegionRegion 91 km91 km22 113,826113,826 232232 87,44487,444

ElectionsDuring an election,

voting citizens elect one candidate to represent each riding

Candidates usually represent a political party, but may also run independentlyThe candidate with the

most votes (plurality) wins

40th Election

41st General Election

40th Election

41st Election

ElectionsThe winning candidate becomes the Member

of Parliament for their ridingEach Member of Parliament (MP) has a seat in

the House of Commons (until the next election) and will represent the interests of their constituency

Most MPs also sit as a member of a particular political party

When voting in Parliament, each MP has one (1) vote

2006 Election – National Results

2008 Election – National Results

2011 Election – National Results

The GovernmentMembers of Parliament sit

together with other members of the same political party

The political party with the most Members of Parliament forms the governmentThe leader of this party becomes

the Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister chooses

Cabinet Ministers Cabinet Ministers - have the

responsibility of running major federal departments

The OppositionAll other parties become

opposition parties, but the party with the second most seats becomes the Official OppositionSome members of the

Official Opposition also form a Shadow Cabinet headed by the Leader of the Official Opposition

This group is responsible for criticizing and challenging the Cabinet

After Jack Layton lost his battle with Cancer, Thomas Mulcair won

the NDP leadership bid.

The Government There can only be three types of

government in Canada

1. Majority Government2. Minority Government3. Coalition Government

Majority GovernmentWhen a political party wins more than

half (155) of the ridings in the electionThe leader of this party becomes the

prime minister The party in power will have little

difficulty passing legislation

Majority Government

Minority GovernmentWhen a political party wins more ridings than

any other party, but does not win more than half (155)

The leader of this party becomes the prime minister

The party in power depends on support from other parties to pass legislation

Minority Government

Coalition GovernmentOccurs when there is a minority governmentTwo parties join together to form a minority

or majority governmentThe Leader of one of these parties becomes

the prime minister

Coalition Government - 2008 (?)

Coalition Government

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_standings_in_the_Canadian_House_of_Commons