Updated: 09/11/08
Ridings and Members of Parliament
Canada is divided into 308 electoral districts or ridings. Voters in each riding elect one member of parliament or MP to send to the House of Commons. The Senate in Canada is not an elected body.
Federal Political Parties
There are 16 registered federal political parties. Three other parties are eligible to register. Each party can nominate one candidate for each riding. During the Canadian federal election in 2006, representatives of only four federal political parties - the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party, the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party won seats in the House of Commons. Just before the 2008 Canadian federal election, one Independent member of parliament joined the Green Party of Canada, giving that party its first member of parliament.
Forming the Government
The party that wins the most ridings in a general federal election is asked by the Governor General to form the government. The leader of that party becomes the Prime Minister of Canada. If the party wins in more than 154 ridings, it will have a majority government, which makes it much easier to get legislation passed in the House of Commons. If the winning party wins 154 seats or fewer, it will form a minority government. In order to get legislation through the House, a minority government usually has to adjust policies to get enough votes from MPs of other parties. A minority government must constantly work to maintain the confidence of the House of Commons in order to stay in power.
The Official Opposition
The political party that wins the second highest number of seats in the House of Commons becomes the Official Opposition.
