Provincial Civics 101
How the Government Works in New Brunswick
In this series, we’ll take you through the fundamentals of how your provincial government functions, why your voice matters in the voting process, and how grassroots activism can influence policies, especially on critical issues like the environment.
You may be wondering, ‘what is civics?’ Don’t worry if that’s the case — these lessons will give you a quick guide to the basics of how your provincial government works, why voting matters and the role activism plays in impacting environmental policy.
Additional resources will also be provided to help you learn more about a particular topic. This sounds like a lot, but we’ve made it as easy as possible with videos and other creative content.
Navigate our lessons using the drop-downs below!
Introduction to civics
HOW DOES STUDYING CIVICS HELP YOU?
Studying civics involves gaining a deeper understanding of Canada’s colonial political system and the rights and responsibilities you have as a citizen so you can confidently participate in democratic processes.
Sadly, most Canadians aren’t exposed to these topics in school. In fact, research by Abacus Data, a market research and strategy firm, found that “a third of Canadian adults didn’t recall learning anything about civics in school” and that a mere “one in ten Canadians say they learned how to discuss controversial issues in school.”
This study also points to a few reasons why education on these topics is lacking at a national level. One reason is that teachers aren’t properly trained to teach these subjects, so they lack confidence in their ability to deal with civic education’s controversial and complex nature. As a result, teachers become afraid that parents will react negatively if they discuss controversial topics in the classroom. Compounding their anxiety, teachers also say they feel that education of this kind is discouraged because it can influence young people’s political views.
These statistics are particularly concerning because prospective voters without a basic understanding of civics are less likely to vote or discuss social issues with friends, family, coworkers and others. Additionally, those lacking the knowledge and skills to communicate with opposing viewpoints tend to avoid engaging in difficult or controversial conversations altogether. At a time when societal polarization is already high, this further exacerbates it.
IMPORTANT TERMS
Civic education: Being educated about the workings of the political system and a citizen’s political and civic rights and responsibilities so one can (and feel empowered to) participate in the democratic processes.
Colonial political system: The political system implemented by colonizers. Many Indigenous communities continue to use traditional ways of government that may differ from the information we provide in these modules.
Government 101
A) Levels of government
Canada is divided into three levels of government — federal, provincial and municipal.
These levels of government have different responsibilities and jurisdictions (areas of authority). For example, the federal government makes laws that apply to the country and deals with Canada-wide concerns. Examples include “provincial and national trade, national defense forces and finances” (source).
Meanwhile, some areas of jurisdiction for provincial governments are “education, hospitals, and property rights” (source). Municipal, or local governments deal with issues like “zoning, pesticide use, and construction permits” (source).
B) Branches of government
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
The executive branch, which is responsible for applying laws and running the government’s day-to-day operations, is made up of:
The lieutenant-governor
The representative of the British monarch in New Brunswick. Although largely ceremonial, the lieutenant-governor plays a role in signing bills into law and opening sessions of the Legislative Assembly.
The premier
The head of government in New Brunswick. The premier is the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the Legislative Assembly during provincial elections. As the province’s chief decision-maker, the premier sets priorities for the government and appoints cabinet ministers.
The cabinet
The head of government in New Brunswick. The premier is the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the Legislative Assembly during provincial elections. As the province’s chief decision-maker, the premier sets priorities for the government and appoints cabinet ministers.
Legislative branch
The legislative branch, which is responsible for making laws, includes:
The legislative assembly
This is New Brunswick’s elected body, made up of 49 MLAs, each representing a specific electoral district. MLAs debate, propose and vote on new laws, policies and budgets. They are elected during provincial elections.
Speaker of the House
An MLA selected by the assembly to act as a neutral referee during debates and discussions in the legislature.
Opposition parties
The party or parties that do not form the government make up the opposition. Its role is to challenge and scrutinize the actions of the government. The leader of the opposition is usually the head of the party with the second-largest number of seats in the Assembly.
Judicial branch
The Judicial branch operates independently from the executive and legislative branches. Its role is to interpret and apply the laws of New Brunswick. The courts settle disputes, uphold individual rights and ensure that laws are consistent with the Constitution.
C) Your elected representatives
Member of the legislative assembly (MLA)
Member of Parliament (MP)
The main difference between these elected officials is what level of government they represent. MLAs are members of the legislative branch of the provincial government, while MPs are members of the legislative branch of the federal government.
Reaching out to your representative when you have a question or problem that needs to be resolved is one of the most effective ways to create change. Just be mindful of what jurisdiction they have influence over.
Whether you voted for them or not, your representative is meant to do just that: represent you. Logistically, it’s more likely that an elected representative will listen to your concerns if you live in their riding, as they want you to vote for them in the nearest election. This is why when you sign petitions, they often ask you to put in your postal code (including the ones on our website) — the petition host wants to ensure your message will go to your relevant representatives.
D) Electoral system
how does the electoral system work?
Regardless of what level of government is holding elections, they all use the same way of determining who ‘wins.’ This system is called first past the post (source). This means that the candidate in a riding who wins the most votes compared to the other candidates wins even if the number of votes the winner receives is not more than half of all votes. When candidates win, they receive a seat for their associated political party.
However, it isn’t the only electoral system currently being used. Other countries use electoral systems that follow different rules, such as the two-round system, instant runoff voting, legislative elections and electoral colleges.
In all provinces, whichever political party has the most seats when all the votes are counted in each riding will typically form the government. The party leader will become prime minister in the case of federal elections or premier in the case of provincial elections.
However, the electoral systems of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut differ from those of most of Canada. They both use a consensus government system where candidates run as independents, not representing political parties, rather than the typical party-based system in the provinces. After the election, the MLAs choose a premier from among themselves, who becomes the head of government. The MLAs also select cabinet ministers.
IMPORTANT TERMS
Constituent: An individual who is represented by a government official.
Electoral system: The way we determine how votes are counted. First Past the Post (explained above) is an example of this.
Why voting MATTERS
THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTER TURNOUT
You may have heard people say that voter turnout is down or low, but what does that mean?
Voter turnout refers to the number of eligible people who vote during elections. When people say that it’s down, it means that fewer people are voting. This is troubling because a pillar of healthy democratic societies is residents showing up to vote.
A 2021 study found the biggest reason eligible voters decided not to vote was that they weren’t interested in politics (source). This is concerning as voting is one of the most powerful ways to have a say in your region — locally, provincially or nationally.
As complicated as it can be, politics influences many parts of your day-to-day life. Voting determines who represents you in government and informs politicians what issues are important to the general population. If you don’t vote for them, they may take this as an indication to change their policy recommendations.
Feeling uninformed about candidates' stances on certain issues?
The best way to find this information is to contact candidates or their offices. This will ensure that you hear it directly from the source (limiting confusion) and indicate interest in this policy area.
Have you ever heard someone say that your vote doesn’t matter? This isn’t true! Democracy requires a large percentage of the eligible voting population to be successful. Educate yourself, vote and have your voice heard at the polls.
Elections NB is where you can find information on how to vote, where to vote, eligibility requirements, candidates, etc.
Environmental Impact
A) Setting environmental targets and making a plan to achieve them
Simply setting environmental goals is not enough. Without a detailed and intentional plan, these goals are just numbers. Until the government does this, you can still hold it accountable for its commitments.
B) Increase funding to non-governmental organizations
Governments are busy, hence the need for non-governmental organizations (NGOs). NGOs play crucial roles in filling in the gaps that the government does not have the capacity to address. Increasing the budget allocated to environmental NGOs is necessary to ensure that those gaps can continue to be filled.
C) Listening to the people
All levels of government should prioritize listening to the people who are most affected by climate change. A better understanding of how to support this demographic can inform a climate action plan that doesn’t leave anyone behind. Supporting vulnerable populations is key.
d) Taking an intersectional approach
Social issues are not independent of one another. For example, the affordability crisis and climate crisis are interconnected. Addressing one will inherently impact the other. This is important to keep in mind because there are so many issues that need to be tackled that it seems overwhelming. Cooperation between government sectors, industry and NGOs will make finding solutions to many social issues easier and more efficient.