How Government Works

• Levels of Provincial Government
• Levels of Government in Canada
• How a Bill Becomes a Law
• Electing Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs)
• Some Services the Ontario Government Looks After

Levels of Provincial Government

Executive Council

• Also called Cabinet
• Made up of the Premier and Cabinet ministers
• Develops policies and sets priorities
• Introduces legislation for MPPs to consider

Legislative Assembly

• Made up of MPPs
• Debates and makes laws
• Also called the legislature or the house

Judiciary

• Made up of the courts, the judges and chief justices
• Interprets and enforces laws; decides on civil and criminal disputes in court
• Protects citizens' rights

Levels of Government in Canada

There are three levels of government in Canada.

1. The municipal government is made up of people from your neighbourhood, town or city. The municipal government is responsible for things like collecting garbage, running the community centres and removing snow. The head of a municipal government is the mayor.
2. The provincial government is made up of people from different parts of the province. The provincial government is responsible for things like schools, health care and the police. The head of the provincial government is called the Premier.
3. The federal government is made up of people from every province in Canada. The federal government is responsible for things like the army and dealing with other countries. The head of the federal government is called the Prime Minister.
   

How a Bill Becomes a Law

An MPP or Cabinet minister introduces a proposed law (called a bill) into the legislature.

At the first reading of the proposed law in the legislature, the member explains what it's about. MPPs then decide whether to discuss it further. If they agree, the bill is scheduled for a second-reading debate. Each member receives a copy of the bill to study. Before second reading, it may be referred to a committee.

At second reading, MPPs debate the bill and vote on whether to let it be examined by committee, or go to a third reading.

At the committee stage, each section of the bill is discussed and voted on. The committee reports to the legislature and the bill goes to another committee (a committee made of the whole legislature) or into a final debate.

After the third reading, the Speaker calls for a final vote. If the majority votes for the bill, it goes to the Lieutenant-Governor for Royal Assent. It's called Royal Assent because the Lieutenant-Governor is approving the bill on behalf of the Queen.

After Royal Assent, the bill becomes an act or statute of the legislature -- it becomes law. A date is chosen for when the law comes into effect. The Lieutenant-Governor approves this date and proclaims the bill as law.

Electing Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs)

• A provincial election happens every four years.
• Canadian citizens over 18 years of age who live in Ontario can vote to elect someone to represent them in provincial parliament.
• Candidates getting the most votes from people in their areas, win the election and become members of provincial parliament -- MPPs.
• MPPs bring the concerns of the people in their communities to parliament and help solve their problems. MPPs make decisions about laws and decide how the government should work.
• Most MPPs belong to a political party. If MPPs belonging to one political party win the majority of seats in the legislature, that party forms the government. The leader of the party with the majority of seats becomes Premier.
  

Some Services the Ontario Government Looks After

• Art Gallery of Ontario
• Birth, death, marriage and name change certificates
• Business registration
• Courts
• Drivers' licences
• Education
• Employment standards
• Health cards
• Ontario Games
• Ontario Provincial Police
• Ontario Science Centre
• Provincial prisons
• Provincial parks
• Retail sales tax
• Royal Ontario Museum
• Team Ontario
• TV Ontario
• Workplace safety and insurance