Indigenous Governance
The term for the inherent right of Indigenous communities to govern themselves and make decisions for their people.
What is Self-Government?
The highest court in Canada.
What is the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC)?
This level of government is primarily responsible for establishing laws related to education and health care.
What is the Provincial government?
An organization outside of government that seeks to influence policy on a specific issue, like environmental protection.
What is an Interest Group (or Lobby Group)?
An ideology that generally favours a free-market economy and reduced government spending and regulation.
What is Conservatism?
The Indigenous group who are the original inhabitants of Prince Edward Island (Epekwitk).
Who are the Mi'kmaq?
The principle that the judiciary must operate independently of the legislative and executive branches.
What is Judicial Independence?
Section 91 of the Constitution Act, 1867, grants the federal government power over "Peace, Order, and Good Government," often shortened to this three-letter acronym.
What is POGG?
An active, engaged citizen may participate in one of these, which is a way to address a local issue or show public support.
What is a Protest, Rally, or Demonstration?
An ideology that generally supports social programs, strong environmental protection, and government intervention to reduce inequality.
What is Socialism (or Social Democracy)?
Treaties are considered part of this country's supreme law, making them legally binding on the Crown.
What is the Constitution of Canada?
A formal court order that requires a person under arrest to be brought before a judge to determine if their detention is lawful.
What is Habeas Corpus?
The level of government in PEI that handles local services like garbage collection, police, and municipal zoning.
What is the Municipal government (or local government)?
The primary responsibility of Canadian citizenship besides obeying the law, which is essential to funding government services.
What is paying taxes?
This ideology places the highest value on individual rights, civil liberties, and equality before the law, often viewing government with skepticism.
What is Liberalism?
The legislation passed in 1876 that gave the federal government control over most aspects of the lives of First Nations peoples.
What is the Indian Act?
The power of a court to strike down a law passed by Parliament or a provincial legislature if it violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
What is Judicial Review?
The constitutional term for powers shared between the federal and provincial governments, such as agriculture and immigration.
What are Concurrent Powers?
The term for the shared values, institutions, and ethical traditions that collectively bind Canadians together.
What is Civic Culture?
A political belief system that proposes a more radical restructuring of society than standard political parties, often focusing on a single issue like climate or gender.
What is a Single-Issue Party or a Fringe Ideology?
The three groups recognized as Aboriginal Peoples under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
Who are Indians (First Nations), Inuit, and Métis?
The two types of legal disputes handled by the court system: one between individuals/groups, and one where the state prosecutes an individual.
What are Civil and Criminal law?
A federal transfer payment to a province that comes with no strings attached and is primarily intended to support public health and social services.
What is the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) or Canada Social Transfer (CST)?
A group like the Red Cross or a local food bank that provides a public benefit but is not run by the government; it's part of the third sector.
What is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) or a Charity?
A political term for the middle ground where most voters are found, leading successful parties to adopt policies from both the left and the right.
What is the Political Centre?