Workbook 4

Activity 1: Political and Legislative Processes

Get Focused

The government is involved in your life and that of each Canadian through the services it provides and the rules it establishes by which Canadians are to live. The laws of Canada provide order for our society and protection for each member of society.

In some homes, not following the rules or breaking a rule may lead to consequences such as being grounded, having to do extra chores, or losing family privileges. Rules may establish order in a home. Laws may be like the rules you find in some homes.

Your local community or city has local or municipal laws. These laws are called bylaws and are established to support health, safety, and wellness in the community. These bylaws include traffic safety, animal control, and police services, for example. A bylaw of Edmonton requires all residents to remove snow and ice from city sidewalks near their residences within 48 hours of a snowfall. All violations are dealt with by local or municipal courts.

In Alberta, provincial laws are established and enforced by the provincial government. The provincial courts look after small claims court, family court, traffic court, and youth court among other matters. A law banning smoking came into affect in Alberta on January 2008. This was a province-wide law to ban smoking in all public places and workplaces.

At the national level, the federal court system upholds the laws of Canada. When the courts cannot make a decision, or a decision is challenged, the dispute may reach the highest court of Canada known as the Supreme Court of Canada.

Interview your family, friends, and members of your community. What laws protect them best at a local level, provincial level, and national level?

Record a list of laws and save the list to your Activities folder.

As you continue your investigation of the judicial branch, you will understand how laws are made and why laws are an important part of Canadian society.

In this activity, you will examine this question:

How do political and legislative processes meet the needs of all Canadians?