Canada's Election 2006

Canada's Election 2006

The minority Liberal government led by Paul Martin was brought down in a vote of non confidence in November 2005 after 17 months in office. There will now be a general election on January 23rd, 2006. The 56 daylong election is between five very competitive parties. Ranging from the Green Party that plans to help the environment, to the Conservatives that plan to cut the GST tax.

In order to remain in office, the Prime Minister and Cabinet must retain the support of a majority of members of the House of Commons. The Queen is the Canadian head of state, who usually acts through the Governor General (MichaÐ"«lle Jean) except when she is in Canada. The Queen appoints the Governor General on the advice of the prime minister. The House of Commons is the major law making controller. In each of the country's constituencies, the candidate who gets the largest number of votes is elected to the House of Commons, even if his or her vote is less than half the total. The party that wins the largest number of seats in a general election ordinarily forms the Government. Its leader is asked by the Governor General to become Prime Minister. In 2004, it was Paul Martin and his Liberal Party. In the upcoming and present day elections for the new 2006 Prime Minister and their party a $277 million dollar campaign is started and left up to the people of Canada to decide which PM is right for the country.