Cabinet of Canada facts for kids
The Cabinet of Canada is a very important group of people who help run the country. It works with the Canadian monarch (the King or Queen of Canada) and the Governor General. Together, they form the government of Canada. The Cabinet is led by the prime minister. It is a special committee of the King's Privy Council for Canada. The Cabinet makes many big decisions for Canada.
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How the Cabinet is Formed
The King, the Governor General, and the Cabinet
The Government of Canada is officially called His Majesty's Government. The constitution says that the King acts on the advice of his Privy Council. This is known as the Governor-in-Council, because the governor general acts for the King.
The full Privy Council rarely meets. It includes former members of parliament and judges. But, for the government to be responsible to the people, those who advise the King must be accountable to the elected House of Commons. So, a smaller group from the Privy Council, made up of members of Parliament, guides the government daily. This group of ministers is the Cabinet.
The advice given by the ministers is usually followed. However, the King or Governor General can use their powers in very rare and serious situations. One main duty of the King's representative, the Governor General, is to choose the prime minister. This person must be able to keep the support of the House of Commons. This is usually the leader of the party with the most seats. If no party has a clear majority, the Governor General must decide who is best suited to be prime minister. The prime minister then leads the Cabinet.
Choosing Cabinet Members
The Governor General appoints people to the Cabinet. These people are chosen by the prime minister. There are no strict legal rules for who can be a minister. However, there are some traditions that are usually followed.
For example, there is often a minister from each province. There are also ministers from different groups, like visible minorities, people with disabilities, and Indigenous people. There are also female ministers. Most ministers are members of Parliament. Sometimes, a senator might be in the Cabinet. This can happen if a province or region does not have many members from the ruling party.
The size and structure of the Canadian Cabinet can change. It is not fixed like in some other countries. For example, in the 20th century, cabinets grew larger. The Cabinet led by Brian Mulroney had 40 ministers. Later prime ministers, like Kim Campbell and Jean Chrétien, made the Cabinet smaller. Under Paul Martin, it grew again to about 39 ministers. In 2021, the Trudeau Cabinet had 37 ministers.
The Cabinet itself is divided into smaller groups called committees. The Treasury Board is one of the most important. It looks after how the government spends money. Other common Cabinet committees deal with things like social issues, economic growth, foreign affairs, and the environment. Each committee is led by a senior minister.
Ministers and Their Helpers
Each minister in the Cabinet is in charge of at least one government area. They lead a department or agency. Some of the most important ministers are the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Health.
Some ministers have unique roles. For example, the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons does not have a specific department. The prime minister can also appoint ministers without portfolio. These ministers do not have a specific department but can be given special tasks. In Canada, ministers of state are also full members of the Cabinet. They are given specific, often temporary, responsibilities.
Cabinet members get help from parliamentary secretaries and deputy ministers. Parliamentary secretaries answer questions in the House of Commons for ministers. Deputy ministers are senior civil servants who give expert advice to each department.
What the Cabinet Does
The Cabinet has a lot of power in Canada. Since the ruling party usually has the most seats in Parliament, almost all laws proposed by the Cabinet are passed. This means the Cabinet has a lot of control over what laws are made. Also, all laws about raising or spending public money must start in the Cabinet.
The Cabinet also appoints many people to government agencies and Crown corporations. Important investigations, like royal commissions, are also started by the King or Governor-in-Council.
Cabinet meetings are private, and what is discussed is kept secret for 30 years. All decisions made by the Cabinet must be agreed upon by everyone. Once a decision is made, all Cabinet members must support it publicly. If a minister breaks these rules, they are usually removed by the prime minister. A minister might also resign if they strongly disagree with a Cabinet decision.
Some people believe that the prime minister has become more powerful than the Cabinet. Analysts have said that the prime minister's office now has more influence. Some have even called the Cabinet a "focus group" for the prime minister.
Shadow Cabinets
Each main opposition party in Canada creates a shadow cabinet. Members of the shadow cabinet watch and comment on the work of the actual Cabinet ministers. They also suggest different policies. The Official Opposition's shadow cabinet is made up of members from the party with the second-largest number of seats. It is often seen as a "government in waiting." Its members are often given Cabinet jobs if their party wins the next election.
See also
- List of Canadian ministries
- Structure of the Canadian federal government
Images for kids
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In Spanish: Gabinete de Canadá para niños
