topic Re: Need help understanding Canadian government in Community Chat

Need help understanding Canadian government

texasteach_1 — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 22:01:42 GMT

We are going to Canada in May. I know that Canada has a Prime Minister and Parliament, but what, if any, part does England/Queen Elizabeth play in Canadian government? I have tried to find the answer to this on line, but all I ever find are answers that either contradict each other or are so confusing that I can't understand.

I would appreciate any help with this.

Thanks,

Judy

Re: Need help understanding Canadian government

Marp2 — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 22:10:44 GMT

As a constitutional monarch, The Queen abides by the decisions of the Canadian Government, but she continues to play important ceremonial and symbolic roles.

http://www.royal.gov.uk/monarchandcommonwealth/canada/canada.aspx

The Royal website contains a lot of information about the Queen's role in Canada.

Re: Need help understanding Canadian government

terrier3 — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 22:45:41 GMT

Where are you going in Canada?

It is a beautiful country! You'll see a lot of the Queen - she is on their money.

Re: Need help understanding Canadian government

texasteach_1 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 01:53:48 GMT

Thanks to both of you for answering. Marp2, thank you for the website. Terrier2, I don't know exactly where we are going because it is part of a cruise to Alaska. I don't have the specifics yet. I am so excited.

We're also going to Disney World next month. We're in our 60s and have never been there. My husband asked me why we were going there. I told him that if we didn't go now, I'd have to wait and have them just sprinkle my ashes in the Magic Kingdom. lol! He agreed that we should go while we're still in good health.

Re: Need help understanding Canadian government

RainCityGirl — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 02:03:53 GMT

I think the Queen only has ceremonial roles in British Canada, doesn't she? The central government I thought was in French Canada. I could be wrong. At any rate, it's a wonderful country. I've traveled from the west to the east, though there are a few provinces I haven't been in yet. I can honestly say that pretty much all of it is breathtaking, including the islands off its east coast. The Canadian Rockies are spectacular. Quebec City is charming. New Brunswick it vast and has so much wilderness beauty. Calgary is a cowboy town. Banff...oh my those jagged peaks. Prince Edward is a trip back to yesteryear, surrounding by water. Nova Scotia is much like the northwest in natural beauty. I have never been to a part of Canada I didn't find stunning.

Re: Need help understanding Canadian government

Kachina624 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 02:45:32 GMT

Our cruise to Alaska only included a short stop in the evening in Victoria. We took a tour of the city in a horse-drawn wagon.

Re: Need help understanding Canadian government

Marp2 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 02:50:47 GMT

Glad to help Texasteach. I sincerely hope you have a balcony room for your cruise, the scenery along the inside passage is stunning and a balcony is the perfect place from which to see it. Enjoy every moment. Bring comfortable walking shoes for shore excursions.

Oh, almost forgot, have fun at Disney (comfortable walking shoes are a must for there too LOL).

Re: Need help understanding Canadian government

texasteach_1 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 04:11:08 GMT

Thank you all for answering my question. I've got the walking shoes ready. On the cruise, we have a balcony suite on the Lido deck. The only other time that we went on a cruise, I didn't know better, so I booked a room that I swear was so small that I could touch both sides of the room while standing in the middle. lol! I think that we were on the same level as the engine room! I did a better job this time. (Also, I have more money to spend now then I did twenty years ago.)

Re: Need help understanding Canadian government

ennui1 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 05:36:41 GMT

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Re: Need help understanding Canadian government

LilacTree — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:50:08 GMT

On 1/15/2014 RainCityGirl said:
I think the Queen only has ceremonial roles in British Canada, doesn't she? The central government I thought was in French Canada. I could be wrong. At any rate, it's a wonderful country. I've traveled from the west to the east, though there are a few provinces I haven't been in yet. I can honestly say that pretty much all of it is breathtaking, including the islands off its east coast. The Canadian Rockies are spectacular. Quebec City is charming. New Brunswick it vast and has so much wilderness beauty. Calgary is a cowboy town. Banff...oh my those jagged peaks. Prince Edward is a trip back to yesteryear, surrounding by water. Nova Scotia is much like the northwest in natural beauty. I have never been to a part of Canada I didn't find stunning.

My honeymoon was a road trip through New England into Quebec. I have never seen so many churches in my life!! The biggest and most famous is a cathedral high above the St. Lawrence River, named St. Anne de Beaupre. Otherwise, Quebec is a charming city.

However, my favorite part of the trip was on the way back when we stopped roadside along a horse farm in New Hampshire that housed a huge field of race horses, who ran right up to us (I have photos of them standing right next to me, behind the fence of course). What a thrill that was!!

Re: Need help understanding Canadian government

terrier3 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 20:01:51 GMT

On 1/15/2014 RainCityGirl said:
I think the Queen only has ceremonial roles in British Canada, doesn't she? The central government I thought was in French Canada. I could be wrong. At any rate, it's a wonderful country. I've traveled from the west to the east, though there are a few provinces I haven't been in yet. I can honestly say that pretty much all of it is breathtaking, including the islands off its east coast. The Canadian Rockies are spectacular. Quebec City is charming. New Brunswick it vast and has so much wilderness beauty. Calgary is a cowboy town. Banff...oh my those jagged peaks. Prince Edward is a trip back to yesteryear, surrounding by water. Nova Scotia is much like the northwest in natural beauty. I have never been to a part of Canada I didn't find stunning.

The capital is Ottawa, which is in Ontario. It isn't far from the border with Quebec though.

Canada is bi-lingual...the signs in Ontario are in both English & French.

Re: Need help understanding Canadian government

terrier3 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 20:09:01 GMT

On 1/15/2014 texasteach said:
Thanks to both of you for answering. Marp2, thank you for the website. Terrier2, I don't know exactly where we are going because it is part of a cruise to Alaska. I don't have the specifics yet. I am so excited.

We're also going to Disney World next month. We're in our 60s and have never been there. My husband asked me why we were going there. I told him that if we didn't go now, I'd have to wait and have them just sprinkle my ashes in the Magic Kingdom. lol! He agreed that we should go while we're still in good health.

My aunt and I went there for her 70th birthday...no kids, just us.

We had a blast!

Disney will bring out the kid in you - that's for sure. We stayed at the Boardwalk - between Epot and the Studios. I went back last year with friends...we all agreed we liked The Studios the best - we are in our 40s and 50s. Don't miss the Tower of Terror...my aunt was a little apprehensive, but when I told her that Walt never made a ride that would traumatize anyone, she tried it...we ended up going on 3 times, laughing all the way. The Aerosmith Rock in Rollercoaster is a smooth ride too. The food at the Brown Derby is wonderful and there is another restaurant there that brings you back to a home in the 50s. They actually collected items to decorate the place from yard sales, flea markets, etc. Tons of fiestaware, ceramic roosters, jadite bowls, etc.

Sounds like you have a lot of fun in your future!

Re: Need help understanding Canadian government

QueenDanceALot — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 20:19:54 GMT

I have a brother who lives in Canada, not far from Toronto. It's just beautiful up there.

Re: Need help understanding Canadian government

terrier3 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 20:35:13 GMT

On 1/16/2014 KittyLouWhoToo said:
I have a brother who lives in Canada, not far from Toronto. It's just beautiful up there.

I live about 90 minutes away from Toronto.

The shopping is fantastic - like NYC but everyone is polite!

Great neighborhoods too.

My ex owns an apartment building in the area called The Beaches - it's on HGTV a lot. Very cute, quirky place. My son stays there when he is working in T.O.