LibGuides: Intermediate Social Studies eResource Sets: Canadian Elections

How do Canadian elections work? (2:45) 2021 Who gets elected and how? Candidates, ridings, majority, minority… it all sounds like adultspeak, right? Wrong! Even if kids can’t vote, they still have a say in what their elected officials are doing on the job. Want to know how to get involved?
What are political parties anyway? (2:06) 2021 When elections happen in Canada, voters are presented with a list of candidates to choose from. Most candidates represent a political party. But what ARE political parties?
How does voting work? (3:03) 2021 It’s not mandatory, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important. What’s it like to go vote? If you’ve never done it, it might sound a bit intimidating. The process is actually really simple and it’s designed that way on purpose, because it’s really important that everyone who is eligible to vote is able to.
AGES 11-17 DEMOCRACY AT WORK - IT'S YOUR CHOICE Jane Churchill 1990 23 min This film is an excellent introduction to the workings of government in Canada. It outlines many of our crucial freedoms (like the right to vote and freedom of speech) and stresses the vital role that citizens play. Democracy at Work - It's Your Choice explains how the political system works--from how MPs represent us, to how Elections Canada organizes voting--and traces the history of democracy in Canada and the extension of the vote to all citizens. (Grades 6-12 civics and social studies.)
Our Electoral System (2:31)
Student Vote
The Right to Vote (3:20)
Student Vote video
Canada in Focus: Making It Count (Voting Rights) (6:52)
Canada's History video

Elections collection Contains articles, videos, and timelines focused on Canadian Elections.
Canadian Electoral System Electoral systems are methods of choosing political representatives. Elections in Canada use a first-past-the-post system, whereby the candidate that wins the most votes in a constituency is selected to represent that riding.
Canadian Party System

Student Vote (CIVIX) Student Vote uses the election as a teachable moment and enables teachers to bring democracy alive in the classroom. This hands-on learning program empowers students to experience the voting process firsthand and cast ballots for the official candidates running in the election. Student Vote is a program of CIVIX, a national charity dedicated to strengthening democracy through civic education.
Party Standings in the House of Commons

The Federal Election Process infographic

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.

source: The Hill Times, May 4, 2024

Canada's Political Parties

Political Parties dominate the landscape of Canadian politics. There are federal parties (listed below) as well as provincial parties. Whichever party has the most elected seats after an election forms the government and their leader becomes the Prime Minister in federal elections, or the Premier in provincial elections.

Liberal Party of Canada The Liberal Party has dominated federal politics for much of Canada’s history, using the formula for success of straddling the political center developed under the leadership of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Liberals have formed numerous governments and provided Canada with 10 prime ministers, but the party has also experienced defeat and internal divisions.
Liberal Party of Canada
Official pary website
Conservative Party The Conservative Party was the founding political party of Canada, governing for the first 29 years after Confederation. Since then, the party has not been as electorally successful as its rival Liberals. The Conservatives have had periods in power and long periods in opposition.
Conservative Party of Canada
Official Party website
Bloc Québécois The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party that was created officially on 15 June 1991 (registered by Elections Canada on 11 September 1993). It was founded as a parliamentary movement composed of Quebec MPs who left the Conservative and Liberal parties after the failure of the Meech Lake Accord. The party promotes Quebec's interests and Quebec sovereignty in the House of Commons. The party only runs candidates in the province of Quebec.
Bloc Québécois
Official Party website (french only)
New Democratic Party (NDP) Founded in 1961, the New Democratic Party (NDP) is a social democratic political party that has formed the government in several provinces but never nationally.
New Democratic Party (NDP)
Official Party website
Green Party of Canada The Green Party of Canada is a federal political party that advocates environmentalism as the key to a sustainable society.
Green Party of Canada
Official Party website

Intermediate Social Studies eResource Sets: Canadian Elections

Note: Some resources require a login. Teachers - get login credentials here.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.

Canada's Political Parties

Canadian institutions and government reflect the challenge of our regional diversity (Grade 5).
Demographic changes in North America created shifts in economic and political power (Grade 4).

Intermediate Social Studies eResource Sets: Canadian Elections

Note: Some resources require a login. Teachers - get login credentials here.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.

Canada's Political Parties

Canadian institutions and government reflect the challenge of our regional diversity (Grade 5). Demographic changes in North America created shifts in economic and political power (Grade 4).

Canadian institutions and government reflect the challenge of our regional diversity (Grade 5).
Demographic changes in North America created shifts in economic and political power (Grade 4).