Consensus government
Encyclopedia
Consensus government is a form of consensus democracy
government in Canada
in the Northwest Territories
, Nunavut
, as well as Nunatsiavut
, an autonomous area
in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
.
The population of these jurisdictions are majority Aboriginal
. The system developed in the Northwest Territories beginning during the 1970s, and was adopted by Nunavut when it came into existence in 1999.
A Legislative Council was convened from time to time of worthy notables, learned in matters involving the natives and northern development. The 2nd Council of the Northwest Territories
met sporadically, typically in Ottawa, and passed Ordinances for the benefit of the territory.
Beginning during the 1950s and 1960s some residents of the Territory were appointed or elected to the Council. These elected members were initially non-native, but in growing number, were Dene, Métis and Inuit. Members began to secure positions on the Executive Council, replacing appointed Ottawa administrators, and began to insist on a devolution of authority. In a series of letters, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs gradually curtailed the authority of the Commissioner and affirmed the authority of the Assembly.
The first fully elected Executive Council elected in 1980 was led by George Braden
, and the system of consensus government developed from that date.
voting. The legislature selects first the Speaker, then the Premier
, and finally the cabinet members from amongst themselves. In each instance the candidate must obtain a majority of the votes cast. This means that multiple ballots may occur before a successful candidate is selected.
The Premier has three main authorities. The Premier 1) names the portfolios of each Minister and can remove or adjust these, 2) controls the agenda of the Cabinet/Executive Council, and 3) hires, rewards, and dismisses the Deputy department heads.
The passage of legislation and the government is dependent on retaining the confidence of the legislature. However due to the absence of political parties there is no formal opposition
and instead of party caucuses members regularly participate in a caucus of all members of the legislature.
While consensus models of discourse often require that a true consensus be obtained, in consensus government policies advanced by the government are decided upon by majority vote; the government must therefore recommend policies that please a majority of the entire legislature if it wants them to be approved.
Consensus democracy
Consensus democracy is the application of consensus decision-making to the process of legislation in a democracy. It is characterised by a decision-making structure which involves and takes into account as broad a range of opinions as possible, as opposed to systems where minority opinions can...
government in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
, as well as Nunatsiavut
Nunatsiavut
Nunatsiavut is an autonomous area claimed by the Inuit in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The settlement area includes territory in Labrador extending to the Quebec border. In 2002, the Labrador Inuit Association submitted a proposal for limited autonomy to the government of Newfoundland and...
, an autonomous area
Autonomous area
An autonomous area or autonomous entity is an area of a country that has a degree of autonomy, or freedom from an external authority. Typically it is either geographically distinct from the rest of the country or populated by a national minority. Countries that include autonomous areas are often...
in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
.
The population of these jurisdictions are majority Aboriginal
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
. The system developed in the Northwest Territories beginning during the 1970s, and was adopted by Nunavut when it came into existence in 1999.
Origins and Development
In 1905, the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were separated from the then much larger Northwest Territories. The Yukon Territory had been created in 1898 to facilitate governance of the Yukon goldfields, and both Ontario and Quebec were granted large areas of northern lands. The remaining lands were considered to be unsettled by Europeans, largely inhabited by Dene, Métis and Inuit, and not requiring much governance. The Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, a functionary reporting to the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs in Ottawa, was given plenary governing authority.A Legislative Council was convened from time to time of worthy notables, learned in matters involving the natives and northern development. The 2nd Council of the Northwest Territories
2nd Council of the Northwest Territories
The 2nd Council of the Northwest Territories known formally as the Council of the Northwest Territories lasted from 1905 to 1951. In 1905 when Alberta and Saskatchewan were carved out the Northwest Territories, the remaining population was too small to legally hold elections. The Northwest...
met sporadically, typically in Ottawa, and passed Ordinances for the benefit of the territory.
Beginning during the 1950s and 1960s some residents of the Territory were appointed or elected to the Council. These elected members were initially non-native, but in growing number, were Dene, Métis and Inuit. Members began to secure positions on the Executive Council, replacing appointed Ottawa administrators, and began to insist on a devolution of authority. In a series of letters, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs gradually curtailed the authority of the Commissioner and affirmed the authority of the Assembly.
The first fully elected Executive Council elected in 1980 was led by George Braden
George Braden
George Braden was a politician from the Northwest Territories, Canada. Elected as "Government Leader", Braden would retroactively become the second Premier of the Northwest Territories, after a motion was passed in 1994 to change the official title.-Political career:Prior to seeking election as...
, and the system of consensus government developed from that date.
Choosing leadership
Members of the legislature are elected as independents from single member districts by simple pluralityPlurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
voting. The legislature selects first the Speaker, then the Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
, and finally the cabinet members from amongst themselves. In each instance the candidate must obtain a majority of the votes cast. This means that multiple ballots may occur before a successful candidate is selected.
The Premier has three main authorities. The Premier 1) names the portfolios of each Minister and can remove or adjust these, 2) controls the agenda of the Cabinet/Executive Council, and 3) hires, rewards, and dismisses the Deputy department heads.
The passage of legislation and the government is dependent on retaining the confidence of the legislature. However due to the absence of political parties there is no formal opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
and instead of party caucuses members regularly participate in a caucus of all members of the legislature.
Developing a Government Platform
When Ministers have been elected and selected by a consensus system, it is inevitable that there is not any common agenda for the proposed work of the government. Such an agenda is developed by the Cabinet and Members, and is called a Mandate or Consensus statement, and is typically made public early in the term of a new Assembly.While consensus models of discourse often require that a true consensus be obtained, in consensus government policies advanced by the government are decided upon by majority vote; the government must therefore recommend policies that please a majority of the entire legislature if it wants them to be approved.
List of consensus governments
- Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
- Legislative Assembly of NunavutLegislative Assembly of NunavutThe Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Canada, is located in Iqaluit, and is the territory's parliament.The Legislative Assembly of Nunavut was opened by Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, on 7 October 2002, during her Golden Jubilee tour of Canada...