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Parliament is the
law-making body but it is not the executive. It does not
administer or enforce the laws. It is far too big to do
so effectively and if it tried it would have to neglect
its law-making and critical functions. Executing,
administering, enforcing and carrying out the laws is
the job of the cabinet supported by the various
Government Departments, Boards, Commissions and so
forth. The Cabinet makes and implements Government
policy within the framework of the laws parliament has
made. The Prime
Minister is appointed by the Governor-General, but the
choice is normally a foregone conclusion since it can be
assumed that he will be the leader of the party having
the largest number of seats in the House of Commons.
The other Members of
the Cabinet are chosen by the Prime Minister and
appointed by the Governor-General on the Prime
Minister's advice. The number of Ministers may vary
depending upon the pleasure of the Prime Minister and
the number of departments their government will govern
with. Normally the number of Ministers is about thirty,
most of whom head Government departments. There are a
few Ministers without departmental responsibilities who
are usually given a special function to perform. One
such Minister is normally a Senator and is the
Government Leader in the Senate; ordinarily there are no
Ministers in the House. The rest including the Prime
Minister must be members of the House of Commons or must
become so within a short time after their appointment.
They must stand together on Government Policy. A
Minister who cannot accept that policy must resign.
The Cabinet is legally a Committee of the
Privy Council. The Privy Council in its plenary form
plays no part in government and for many years has held
only very occasional formal meetings with the Queen of
the Governor-General present. All Cabinet Ministers must
be Privy Councilors, and they remain so even after they
have left the Cabinet. Usually, every province is
represented in the Cabinet unless that province has
failed to return any Members supporting the Government.
The most populous provinces, such as Ontario and Quebec,
are likely to be represented in the Cabinet by several
ministers.
Although answerable to Parliament, the Cabinet is a
powerful body because of the great responsibilities
delegated to it. It controls the departments of
government and administers a wide range of laws and
polices. Under the authority of various Acts of
Parliament, it is empowered to make regulations which
can have a far-reaching effect on the lives of the
people. It administers massive economic and social
programs. It controls huge expenditures which, although
approved and appropriated by Parliament, are of such
complexity that total financial control by Parliament is
in practice impossible.
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