I often compare our Canadian governing system to that of the United States. We follow a parliamentary system whereas the United States is a Republic Style of government. In Canada, the governing party – whether Liberal, Conservative or New Democratic – governs by having either a coalition of two or more parties or a majority of party members of the House of Commons.
In Canada we have five different parties with standing, currently sitting in the House of Commons.
Not so in the United States. There are only to official parties and although there are independent members such as Bernie Sanders, they identify with either the Republican or Democratic Parties.
In Canada, we are currently seeing a great deal of collegial support between the parties as they all appear to be working in concert to protect Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic. There appears to be clear support for laid off workers with funding. All parties have supported the measures of the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) which has been used to support employed and self-employed workers who have been directly impacted by COVID-19. It will now be brought into the Employment Insurance program.
In the United States the original COVID-19 bill has long expired and there continues to be a great deal of wrangling between President Trump, the Republican senate majority and the Democrat lead Congress of providing additional benefits to US residents impacted by COVID-19. The original support ended on July 31 and for two months all support has been in limbo. While Canadian parties seem to be able to cooperate, the US system appears to seek division over cooperation.
Legislation has been passed to support residents of the US impacted by COVID-19 by Congress but languishes with the Senate and the president.
Similarly, there appears to be great partisanship in choosing Supreme Court Justices in the United States. They become well known through hearings and political stripes of their appointers. In Canada, our chief justices remain virtually unknown and must come from various provinces of the country. Often part of the US judicial system has judges aligning with a particular political party and their rulings often align with the philosophy of the party they align with. Even though they may not be a registered party member, their rulings advance them through the appointment process.
The movement of justices to the Supreme Court in the US appears like an election process with strong campaigns to have the presidential nominated person elected to the Supreme Court. In Canada, the Privy Council reviews judges for the Supreme Court and are eventually nominated by the cabinet of the sitting government. As Canada Supreme Court Justices have an expiry date in Canada. They must retire at the age of 75. Not so in the United States. A US Supreme Court Justice holds the position until they choose to retire or die.
Right now, Canada appears much more stable and our political parties appear more tuned into voters’ expectations. We are fortunate.
