I’m First Nation and I Vote: Provincial and Federal Elections

September 9, 2019

Treaty One Territory, Manitoba

AMC Communications

 

Introduction

As the fastest-growing population in Canada, First Nations citizens are greatly under-represented in voter turnout for Canadian elections. We have created a brief guide to the electoral system in Canada. It intends to answer some questions you may have before you cast your ballot. Canada has three levels of government: federal, provincial, and municipal. This guide aims to explain the voting process in federal and provincial elections so you will feel more confident and informed when going to vote.

Canada’s System of Government

Prior to European contact, First Nations governed themselves and their territories through a range of different political systems including democratic forms of government.

The Canadian government is representative democracy.

A representative democracy is a system where eligible citizens of a country vote for government representatives (Member’s of Parliament, Member’s of the legislature etc.) to bring forward, vote and handle legislation and rule the country on their behalf.

A democracy is a system of government in which the people like you have the power to make decisions and elect representatives.

Political Parties

In democracies like Canada, political parties are elected to run a government. A political party is a group of people who share common values, ideas, goals and principles as to how the country should be governed.

Provincial Election Federal Election

Date

September 10, 2019

 

Date

October 21, 2019

 

Major Political Parties

1) The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba

2) The New Democratic Party of Manitoba

3) The Manitoba Liberal Party

4) The Greens Party of Manitoba

 

Major Political Parties

1) Liberal Party of Canada

2) The New Democratic Party (NDP)

3) The Conservative Party of Canada

4) The Green Party of Canada.

The provincial government is responsible for issues that affect Manitoba, for example:

·        Education

·        Health care

·        Property and civil rights

·        Water management

·        Highways

The federal government is responsible for Issues that affect the whole country, for example:

·        CIRNAC/IS (Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada)

·        citizenship and immigration,

·        foreign affairs

·        national defence

·        trade

Electoral Districts (ridings) in Manitoba

57

Electoral Districts (ridings) in Manitoba

14 (308 across Canada)

What is my electoral district?

https://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/en/Voting/WhatsMyElectoralDivision

What is my electoral district?

https://elections.ca/Scripts/vis/FindED?L=e&PAGEID=20

Government Representative:

Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA)

Government Representative:

Member of Parliament (MP)

Who is my MLA candidate?

Once you know your electoral district (see above) search here:

https://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/en/Voting/Candidates/1

Who is my MP candidate?

https://www.elections.ca/Scripts/vis/FindED?L=e&QID=-1&PAGEID=20

Premier of Manitoba

The leader of the party that wins the most ridings becomes Premier of Manitoba

Prime Minister of Canada

The leader of the party that wins the most ridings becomes Prime Minister of Canada

How do I vote in the provincial election?

Elections Manitoba resource

How do I vote in the federal election?

Elections Canada Resource

 

Federal Election in Canada 

The Federal election will be held on October 21, 2019, your vote will help elect the Member of Parliament (MP) of the 14 electoral districts (ridings) in Manitoba. The party that wins the most ridings across Canada (elects the most MP’s) will be the governing party, and the leader of that party will be the Prime Minister of Canada.

Across Canada there are 308 elected members of Parliament (MPs).

Find your federal riding here by entering your postal code: https://elections.ca/Scripts/vis/FindED?L=e&PAGEID=20

Provincial Election in Manitoba

The Provincial election will be held on September 10, 2019. Your vote will help elect a Member of the Manitoba Legislature of the 57 electoral districts (ridings) in Manitoba. The provincial party that wins the most ridings in Manitoba (elects the most MLA’s) will be the governing party, and the leader of that party will be the Premier of Manitoba.

Each level of government has roles and responsibilities

The Federal Government

At the federal level, the Government of Canada is responsible for issues that affect the whole country such as citizenship and immigration, foreign affairs, national defence and trade. More importantly, it is also responsible for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

The Provincial Government

The provincial level, the Province of Manitoba is responsible for things within our province, such as social services, education, health care, property and civil rights, water management and highways

First Nations Governance

Nations across the country generally govern themselves by band councils or other structures that make decisions and policies. These elected councils make decisions on issues such as membership, education, health, cultural programs, planning and land use, hunting, fishing, trapping and plant harvesting and also lobby and advocate on behalf of their membership to assure that communities issues are brought to provincial and national attention.