A bilingual study guide based on Canada.ca's "Democracy in Canada" and the pages it links to by Alliance of Chinese Conservatives.
本资料由加拿大华裔保守联盟AOCC整理自 Canada.ca 「Democracy in Canada」及其各分支页面。
Contents · 目录
- Overview · 导读
- 1. How Parliament Works · 议会如何运作
- 2. How You Vote · 你如何投票
- 3. How You Are Represented · 你如何被代表
- Sources · 来源
Overview · 导读
The Canada.ca page answers three questions: how Parliament works, how you vote, and how you are represented. This guide follows the same order and adds detail from the pages it links to.
Canada.ca 这个页面回答三个问题：议会如何运作、你如何投票、你如何被代表。本资料按同样顺序编排，并补充了各分支页面的内容。
Key Terms · 关键术语
| English | 中文 | Meaning · 含义 |
|---|---|---|
| Parliamentary democracy | 议会民主制 | The government comes from, and answers to, the elected House · 政府产生于民选众议院并对其负责 |
| Constitutional monarchy | 君主立宪制 | The King is Head of State but acts within the Constitution · 国王是国家元首，但在宪法范围内行事 |
| Riding / electoral district | 选区 | An area that elects one MP · 选出一名议员的地理区域 |
| Writ | 选举令 | Formal order to hold an election in a riding · 要求在选区举行选举的正式命令 |
| First-Past-the-Post | 单一选区相对多数制 | The candidate with the most votes wins · 得票最多者当选 |
| Confidence | 信任 | Majority support in the House that the government needs to stay in office · 政府继续执政所需的众议院多数支持 |
| Constitutional convention | 宪法惯例 | Binding rule that is not written law · 有约束力但不是成文法的规则 |
| Sober second thought | 冷静再审 | The Senate's review of bills passed by the House · 参议院对众议院法案的复审 |
| Hansard | 议会记录 | The written record of debates · 议会辩论的文字记录 |
| Returning officer | 选区选举主任 | Official who runs the election in a riding · 负责一个选区选举事务的官员 |
1. How Parliament Works · 议会如何运作
Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. Parliament has three parts: the King, represented by the Governor General; the appointed Senate; and the elected House of Commons. A bill must pass all three to become law.
加拿大是君主立宪制兼议会民主制国家。议会由三部分组成：由总督代表的国王、任命产生的参议院、民选的众议院。法案必须经过这三部分才能成为法律。
The Constitution gives executive power to the King, but in practice the Prime Minister and Cabinet exercise it.
宪法把行政权赋予国王，实际行使这项权力的是总理和内阁。
1.1 The House of Commons · 众议院
The House debates issues, votes on laws, and holds the government to account. It has 343 MPs, one for each riding. Most MPs belong to a party, which runs on a platform of priorities; MPs with no party are called independents.
众议院讨论议题、表决法律、监督政府。共有 343 名议员，每个选区一名。大多数议员属于某个政党，政党以政纲（施政优先事项）参选；不属于任何政党的议员称为独立议员。
The Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers sit in the House, so MPs can question them directly, most visibly in the daily Question Period.
总理和内阁部长都在众议院席位上，议员可以当面质询他们，最常见的是每天的质询时段（Question Period）。
1.2 The Senate · 参议院
The Senate gives bills "sober second thought," reviewing and sometimes amending them before they become law. It also speaks for regional interests and for groups often underrepresented in the House, such as Indigenous peoples, minority-language and ethnic communities, and women.
参议院对法案「冷静地再审一遍」，在法案成为法律前进行审查，有时会提出修正。参议院还代表地区利益，以及在众议院中代表性不足的群体，如原住民、少数语言和族裔群体、女性。
It has 105 Senators, appointed by the Governor General on the Prime Minister's advice. Seats are shared by region: Ontario 24, Quebec 24, the Maritimes 24, the West 24 (British Columbia 6), Newfoundland and Labrador 6, and one for each territory. Senators must retire at 75.
参议院共 105 名参议员，由总督依总理建议任命。席位按地区分配：安省 24、魁省 24、海洋三省 24、西部四省 24（BC 省 6 席）、纽芬兰与拉布拉多 6 席，三个地区各 1 席。参议员 75 岁必须退休。
From 2016, the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments took applications from the public and gave the Prime Minister a short-list of five names for each vacancy, using criteria that included independence from political parties. In July 2026, the government replaced this process: it dropped the non-partisan requirement, appointed a new advisory board and launched a new online application system. The board's recommendations are still non-binding, and the first four senators under the new process were named on July 7, 2026. Applicants must be Canadian citizens aged 30 to 74 who live in the province and own at least $4,000 in net property there.
2016 年起，「参议员任命独立咨询委员会」接受公众申请，每个空缺向总理提交五人推荐名单，评估标准包括不隶属政党的独立性。2026 年 7 月，政府改革了这套程序：取消无党派要求，组建新的咨询委员会，并推出新的网上申请系统。委员会的推荐仍不具约束力，新程序下的首批 4 名参议员于 2026 年 7 月 7 日获任命。申请人须为 30 至 74 岁的加拿大公民，居住在该省并在当地拥有至少 4,000 加元净资产。
1.3 The Governor General · 总督
The Governor General is the King's representative and carries out the Head of State's duties in Canada and abroad. Louise Arbour has held the office since June 8, 2026.
总督是国王的代表，在国内外履行国家元首的职责。现任总督 Louise Arbour 于 2026 年 6 月 8 日就任。
The Governor General acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and government but keeps the right to advise, encourage and warn. The most important duty is to make sure Canada always has a Prime Minister and a government that hold the confidence of the House.
总督依总理和政府的建议行事，但保留建议、鼓励和警告的权利。最重要的职责是确保加拿大始终有一位获得众议院信任的总理和政府。
1.4 Constitutional Conventions and Confidence · 宪法惯例与信任
Conventions are rules of the Constitution that are not laws, so courts do not enforce them. Most rules of responsible government are conventions, and they also limit the Governor General's powers.
宪法惯例是宪法规则，但不是法律，法院不强制执行。责任政府的大多数规则都是惯例，总督的权力也受惯例限制。
The most important convention is confidence: the government must keep the support of a majority of MPs. If it loses a confidence vote, it is expected to resign or ask for an election. The rule is not in any statute, and the Speaker cannot rule on it.
最重要的惯例是信任：政府必须保持多数议员的支持。政府若输掉信任投票，应当辞职或请求举行选举。这条规则不在任何法律里，议长也无权裁定。
| Type 类型 | Examples 例子 |
|---|---|
| Explicit 明示 | A motion saying the House has, or has not, confidence in the government · 直接表明众议院信任或不信任政府的动议 |
| Declared 宣布 | A vote the government itself names a confidence matter · 政府自行宣布为信任问题的表决 |
| Implicit 隐含 | The budget, spending (supply) motions, and the reply to the Speech from the Throne · 预算案、拨款动议、对施政报告的答辞 |
Minority governments have fallen this way: Joe Clark's on a budget vote on December 13, 1979; Paul Martin's on November 28, 2005; and Stephen Harper's on March 25, 2011.
少数政府曾因此倒台：1979 年 12 月 13 日 Joe Clark 政府输掉预算表决；2005 年 11 月 28 日 Paul Martin 政府倒台；2011 年 3 月 25 日 Stephen Harper 政府倒台。
1.5 Division of Powers and the Charter · 分权与宪章
Canada has two constitutional orders of government. The Constitution Act, 1867 lists federal powers (such as defence, criminal law and currency) and provincial powers (such as education, health care and natural resources). Municipalities are created by provinces and get their powers from provincial law.
加拿大宪法上只有两级政府。《1867 年宪法法案》列出了联邦权力（如国防、刑法、货币）和省级权力（如教育、医疗、自然资源）。市政府由省设立，权力来自省法。
The Constitution Act, 1982 brought the Constitution fully under Canadian control, added an amending formula, recognized Aboriginal and treaty rights, and added the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
《1982 年宪法法案》使宪法完全归加拿大自主，增加了修宪程序，承认了原住民权利和条约权利，并加入了《加拿大权利与自由宪章》。
Three Charter sections protect democracy directly:
宪章中有三条直接保障民主：
Section 3 第 3 条: every citizen has the right to vote in federal and provincial elections and to run for office. 每位公民都有在联邦和省级选举中投票及参选的权利。
Section 4 第 4 条: no Parliament or legislature may last longer than five years, except in war, invasion or insurrection, and then only if no more than one-third of members object. 议会任期不得超过五年；只有在战争、入侵或叛乱时可以延长，且反对者不得超过三分之一。
Section 5 第 5 条: Parliament and every legislature must sit at least once every 12 months. 议会和各省议会至少每 12 个月开会一次。
Other key sections: section 1 allows only "reasonable" limits that can be justified in a free and democratic society; section 2 protects freedom of religion, expression, assembly and association. Under section 33, a government can override section 2 and sections 7 to 15 for five years at a time, and must renew the override to keep it.
其他重要条款：第 1 条只允许在自由民主社会中能证明合理的限制；第 2 条保障宗教、表达、集会和结社自由。依据第 33 条（「尽管条款」），政府可以排除第 2 条及第 7 至 15 条的适用，每次最长五年，到期须重新立法。
1.6 Bills, Committees and Records · 法案、委员会与议会记录
A bill becomes law only after both chambers pass it in the same form and the Governor General grants Royal Assent. It goes through first reading, second reading, committee study, report stage and third reading in each chamber.
法案必须经两院以相同文本通过，并由总督给予御准，才能成为法律。在每一院都要经过一读、二读、委员会审议、报告阶段和三读。
Much of the detailed work happens in committees, which are small versions of each chamber with seats shared roughly by party strength.
大量细致工作在委员会完成。委员会是各院的缩小版，席位大致按各党实力分配。
| Committee 委员会 | What it does 职能 |
|---|---|
| Standing 常设 | Permanent; oversees departments, studies bills and issues; usually 12–15 members · 常设，监督部门，审议法案和议题，通常 12–15 人 |
| Special 特别 | Studies one issue, then ends after its final report · 研究单一议题，提交最终报告后解散 |
| Legislative 立法 | Studies one specific bill · 审议某一项法案 |
| Joint 联合 | Senators and MPs together · 参议员与众议员共同组成 |
| Committee of the Whole 全院 | All members of one chamber, for quick decisions · 一院全体成员，用于快速讨论或决定 |
Anyone can follow Parliament's work. Hansard is the written record of every debate, and ParlVU streams sittings and committee meetings live.
任何人都可以跟进议会工作。议会记录（Hansard）完整记录每场辩论，ParlVU 直播议会会议和委员会会议。
2. How You Vote · 你如何投票
Voting is voluntary. In each riding you vote for one candidate, not directly for a party or a Prime Minister. The candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority.
投票是自愿的。在自己的选区，你只投给一位候选人，而不是直接投给政党或总理。得票最多的候选人当选，不必过半。
2.1 An Election in Six Steps · 选举六步
Dissolution 解散议会: the Prime Minister asks the Governor General to dissolve Parliament, and the Chief Electoral Officer issues the writs, formal orders telling each riding to hold an election. 总理请总督解散议会，首席选举官发布选举令，即要求各选区举行选举的正式命令。
Nomination 提名候选人: parties pick a candidate in each riding; others run as independents. Candidates must be citizens aged 18 or older on election day. Election officers, sitting provincial legislators, federally appointed judges and prisoners cannot run. 各政党在每个选区提名候选人，也可以以独立身份参选。候选人须为选举日年满 18 岁的公民；选举官员、现任省议员、联邦任命的法官和服刑人员不得参选。
Campaigning 竞选: the campaign runs 37 to 51 days, from the writs to election day. 竞选期从发布选举令到选举日，为 37 至 51 天。
Voting 投票: about 20,000 polling stations open across Canada; voting is secret. 全国约设 2 万个投票站，实行秘密投票。
Counting and results 计票与结果: election officers count ballots in a locked polling station; returning officers validate the results. A very close race triggers a judicial recount; in a riding with 40,000 votes, a margin under 40 votes qualifies. 选举官员在上锁的投票站内计票，选区选举主任确认结果。结果极接近时由法官主持重新计票；例如在投票数 4 万的选区，差距不到 40 票即需重新计票。
Parliament resumes 议会复会: each winner becomes the riding's MP, and the party with the most MPs usually forms the government. 各选区胜出者成为议员，议员最多的政党通常组建政府。
Since 2007, federal elections are fixed for the third Monday of October in the fourth calendar year after the last one, but an election can come earlier. It can never come more than five years after the last.
自 2007 年起，联邦大选固定在上次大选后第四个日历年的 10 月第三个星期一，但可以提前。两次大选相隔绝不超过五年。
2.2 Who Can Vote and How · 谁可以投票、怎么投
You can vote if you are a Canadian citizen, 18 or older on election day, and registered. You must show proof of identity and address.
加拿大公民、选举日年满 18 岁并已登记，即可投票。投票时须出示身份和地址证明。
| Way to vote 投票方式 | When 时间 |
|---|---|
| At your polling station 在所属投票站 | Election day 选举日 |
| Advance polls 提前投票 | Set days before election day 选举日前的指定日期 |
| Any Elections Canada office 任一选举局办事处 | During the campaign 竞选期间 |
| By mail 邮寄 | Apply during the campaign 竞选期间申请 |
To find your riding, check your registration or locate your polling station, use the Voter Information Service and enter your postal code.
查询所属选区、登记状态或投票站，可以使用选民信息服务，输入邮政编码即可。
2.3 A Short History of the Vote · 投票权简史
The right to vote widened slowly. For most of Canada's first century, property rules, sex and race kept many people from voting.
投票权是逐步扩大的。在加拿大建国后的大部分时间里，财产门槛、性别和种族把许多人排除在外。
| Year 年份 | What changed 变化 |
|---|---|
| 1885 | Federal law sets property rules and bars people of Chinese origin from voting · 联邦法律设定财产门槛，并明文禁止华裔投票 |
| 1917 | Military nurses and some female relatives of soldiers get the federal vote; many naturalized citizens from enemy countries lose it · 军队护士及部分军人女性亲属获得联邦投票权；许多来自敌国的归化公民被取消投票权 |
| 1918 | Women get the federal vote on the same terms as men · 女性获得与男性同等的联邦投票权 |
| 1920 | Dominion Elections Act ends federal property rules and creates the Chief Electoral Officer · 《自治领选举法》取消联邦财产门槛，设立首席选举官 |
| 1948 | Chinese, Japanese and other Asian Canadians get the federal vote · 华裔、日裔及其他亚裔获得联邦投票权 |
| 1950 | Inuit get the federal vote · 因纽特人获得联邦投票权 |
| 1960 | First Nations people can vote without giving up their Indian status · 第一民族无须放弃原住民身份即可投票 |
| 1970 | Voting age lowered from 21 to 18 · 投票年龄从 21 岁降至 18 岁 |
| 1982 | The Charter guarantees every citizen the right to vote and run · 宪章保障每位公民的投票权和参选权 |
| 1988 | Federally appointed judges get the vote · 联邦任命的法官获得投票权 |
| 1993 | Ban on many people with intellectual disabilities ends · 取消对许多智力障碍人士的投票禁令 |
| 2004 | All prisoners can vote, whatever their sentence · 所有服刑人员不论刑期长短均可投票 |
| 2018 | Canadians living abroad long-term can vote · 长期旅居海外的加拿大公民可以投票 |
For the full story, Elections Canada's book A History of the Vote in Canada (3rd edition, 2020) covers four periods: 1758–1866, 1867–1919, 1920–1981 and 1982–2020.
完整历史可读选举局出版的《加拿大投票权历史》（2020 年第 3 版），分四个时期：1758–1866、1867–1919、1920–1981、1982–2020。
3. How You Are Represented · 你如何被代表
You are represented by your own MP in the House of Commons, by your region in the Senate, and by separately elected people at the provincial and municipal levels.
你在众议院由自己选区的议员代表，在参议院由所在地区的参议员代表，在省级和市级则由另行选举的代表代表。
3.1 Your Riding and Your MP · 选区与议员
Each of the 343 MPs represents one riding (also called an electoral district or constituency). Your MP speaks for everyone in the riding, including those who voted for someone else, and can help with federal matters such as immigration, passports, taxes and benefits.
343 名议员各代表一个选区。你的议员代表选区内所有人，包括没有投票给他的人，可以协助处理移民、护照、税务、福利等联邦事务。
The Senate adds regional representation. Its seats are divided among regions rather than by population, and it is meant to give a voice to groups that may be underrepresented in the House.
参议院增加了地区代表性。其席位按地区而非人口分配，并为在众议院中代表性不足的群体提供发声渠道。
3.2 Elections and Government Formation · 选举与组阁
A party's seat count is the number of its candidates who win their ridings. Under First-Past-the-Post, a party can win a majority of seats with well under half the national vote.
政党的议席数就是其在各选区胜出的候选人数量。在单一选区相对多数制下，政党全国得票率远低于一半也可能赢得多数议席。
| Result 结果 | What it means 含义 |
|---|---|
| Majority government 多数政府 | The governing party holds 172 or more of 343 seats and can pass laws on its own · 执政党在 343 席中占 172 席或以上，可独立通过法律 |
| Minority government 少数政府 | The largest party has fewer than 172 seats and needs other parties' votes on each bill and confidence vote · 第一大党不足 172 席，每项法案和信任投票都需其他政党支持 |
| Official Opposition 官方反对党 | Usually the party with the second-most seats · 通常是议席第二多的政党 |
The Governor General must appoint as Prime Minister the leader most likely to hold the House's confidence. That is usually, but not always, the leader of the largest party.
总督必须任命最有可能获得众议院信任的领袖为总理。通常是第一大党领袖，但并非一定。
Elections normally come every four years on a fixed date. They come sooner if the Prime Minister asks for an early election or if the government loses a confidence vote.
选举通常每四年在固定日期举行。如果总理要求提前选举，或政府输掉信任投票，选举就会提前。
3.3 Three Levels of Government · 三级政府
Federal laws generally apply to the whole country; provinces and territories make laws in their own areas; municipalities pass by-laws and run local services for a city, town or village.
联邦法律一般适用于全国；省和地区在各自权限内立法；市政府为各自的市、镇或村制定地方法规并提供地方服务。
Example: a resident of Richmond Centre, where Conservatives hold both the federal and the provincial seat, is represented at all three levels.
以列治文市中心的居民为例（该地的联邦和省级议席都由保守党持有），三级都有代表：
| Level 层级 | Who represents you 谁代表你 | Responsible for 主要负责 |
|---|---|---|
| Federal 联邦 | The MP for Richmond Centre—Marpole: Chak Au, Conservative, elected 2025 · 列治文中—马尔堡选区联邦议员：区泽光（Chak Au），保守党，2025 年当选 | Defence, immigration, criminal law, currency, citizenship · 国防、移民、刑法、货币、公民身份 |
| Provincial 省 | The MLA for Richmond Centre in the 93-seat BC Legislature: Sacha Peter, BC Conservative, elected October 24, 2026. Conservatives won all four Richmond ridings · BC 省议会（93 席）列治文中区省议员：Sacha Peter，卑诗保守党，2026 年 10 月 24 日当选。保守党赢得列治文全部四个省选区 | Health care, education, natural resources, municipal powers · 医疗、教育、自然资源、市政府权限 |
| Municipal 市 | A mayor and eight councillors, elected every four years; Rob Howard was elected mayor on October 17, 2026 · 市长和八名市议员，每四年选一次；Rob Howard 于 2026 年 10 月 17 日当选市长 | Zoning, local roads, parks, policing, by-laws · 土地规划、地方道路、公园、治安、地方法规 |
Richmond voters also elect seven school trustees. Federal and provincial powers come from the Constitution; municipal powers come from BC laws, mainly the Community Charter and the Local Government Act.
列治文选民还选举七名校董。联邦和省的权力来自宪法；市政府的权力来自 BC 省法律，主要是《社区宪章》（Community Charter）和《地方政府法》（Local Government Act）。
Sources · 来源
All pages were opened on October 28, 2026. 所有页面均于 2026 年 10 月 28 日打开核实。
Starting page · 起始页面
1. Parliament · 议会
Confidence convention – House of Commons Procedure and Practice
Prime Minister Carney modernises Senate appointment process – PMO, July 7, 2026
Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments – new application system
Louise Arbour installed as 31st Governor General – Senate of Canada
2. Voting · 投票
3. Representation · 代表
