How Liberal Democracy Reflects in Canadian Government (POL 111)

This essay examines the principles of liberal democracy and how they are reflected in the Canadian system of government and politics. It begins by defining liberal democracy and outlining its core tenets, such as individual freedoms, the right to expression, freedom of religion, political freedom, and the right to equality. The essay then explores the Canadian parliamentary system, including the roles of the Monarch, the Governor General, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, and the legislative and judicial branches. It highlights Canada's constitutional monarchy and bicameral legislature. The essay argues that Canada's political framework aligns with liberal democracy, emphasizing the role of political parties, the pursuit of equality, and the safeguarding of individual rights, including freedom of speech and expression. The essay also references the Liberal Party of Canada's commitment to these principles. The conclusion summarizes the essay's main points, emphasizing that the Canadian government is made by the people, elected by the common people as well as rules by them, and the importance of protecting individual rights and freedoms.

Running head: LIBERAL DEMOCRACY
Liberal Democracy
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Course Number: POL 111
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The word “Democracy” literally implies a government that is ruled by the people. It
had originally originated 2400 years ago in ancient Greece. The principal purposes why the
people of the nation opt for a democracy is because they desire the promotion and protection
of their rights, their interests as well as their welfare. There modern form of democracy has
three principle forms, democracy, constitutionalism and liberalism. The following essay is
aimed at discussing the Liberal Democracy as a whole in Canada. The principles of Liberal
Democracy has been discussed at first followed by the Parliamentary System of Government
in Canada and how the Political framework of Canada reflects the Liberal form of
Democracy.
Liberal Democracy implies a form of government. It is a form of democracy which
involves the ability of the elected representatives who has the power to exercise their decision
making power(Dickerson, Flanagan & O’Neill). According to Galston, they are generally
modified by a constitution whose prime responsibility is to safeguard the freedoms and the
rights of the individuals and the protection of their liberal rights. However, the term “liberal”
in the word Liberal Democracy does not imply that the government uses a democracy which
is enforced to follow the ideology of political liberalism (Bell). The principles of Liberal
Democracy are as follows:
 The individuals enjoy the freedom of individual expression. They have the right to
express themselves orally as well as through words.
 Liberal democracy allows the individuals right of information, freedom from slavery,
freedom of education and right to an independent judiciary as well (Mukand, Sarun
and Rodrik).
 The individuals have the freedom of religion. They can exercise or practise any form
of religion that they want to, or can practise none. It is entirely their own discretion.

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 They have the power to enjoy political freedom. Liberal Democracy allows the
citizens equal right, to choose and elect the body that they desire to be governed. They
even can remove them from power.
 Freedom of press or electronic media are also enjoyed by the citizens of a liberal
democracy.
 The individuals have the right to enjoy privacy. They have a sphere of life which is
entirely private and is free from the intervention of the government.
 Finally the citizens have the right to equality and they can easily have the freedom to
associate themselves in any kind of public and private gathering, without any
interference from any external force.
As stated by Barnes and Virgint, the states of Canada, European Union, Japan, the United
States, India, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia enjoy the liberal form of democracy.
The liberal democracies have an inherited structure which includes universal suffrage,
granting all the adult citizens the right to vote and elect regardless of race, gender or the kind
of ownership that they possess.
As stated by Malcolmson et al., the Preamble to the Constitution Act of 1867 states
that the Canadian Constitution is almost alike the Constitution of the United Kingdom and it
shares almost the same kind of principles as that of the British Government. The
parliamentary system of Canada is the legislative form of government which involves three
parts – The Monarch, the Senators and the Members of the Parliament (Thomas). The
Monarch is represented and elected by the Governor General. The executive form of the
Government in Canada involves the Monarch or the Governor General, the Prime Minister as
well as the Cabinet Finally the judiciary branch of the government involves the federal
department which include the National Defence, Justice and the Finance Department
(Dobuzinskis). These three branches, the executive, the legislative and the judicial branches

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work together to form the Government of Canada (Barnes et.al.). The Canadian government
is basically a constitutional monarchy, where the executive authority of the state is vested
upon the Monarch whereas the Prime Minister is the Head of the Government (Clarkson).
Thus the nation enjoys a representative form of the Government. As the federal legislative
system is bicameral in nature, it has two houses- the Upper and the Lower Houses. The Upper
house consists of the Senate and the Lower House, the House of Commons. The political
parties also play a critical role in the Canadian Parliamentary system. The parties are the
organizations that work together under a common ideology. In the democratic system of
Canada, the competition of power takes place in the context of elections.
According to Forsey, the Government of Canada does follow the liberal form of
Government. The membership of the Liberal Party of Canada remains dedicated to the
principles of the liberal form of democracy. The principles of the Liberal Party of Canada
does reflect the general principles of the liberal democracy and this differentiates it from the
other political parties (Mintz, Close & Croci). According to Triadafilopoulos, the Liberal
Democracy of Canada is committed to the pursuit of equality and freedom of individuality. It
believes in equal opportunities for all the citizens of Canada. It maintains the responsibility
and the human dignity in the societal framework. According to Massicotte, the Canadian
Liberal Democracy ensures the enhancement and the maintenance of the unique and diverse
cultural community of the nation. Safeguarding the right to expression and freedom of speech
is maintained by the Canadian liberal democracy as well. It recognizes that the English and
the French languages are the official languages of Canada. In accordance with these policies,
theLiberal Government of Canada believes that there is continuousexposition of the freedoms
and the fundamental rights of the persons, under the Canadian rule of Law (Cram). As opined
by Marland, the Liberal Party of Canada also identifies and makes sure that the human
dignity is safeguarded and protected in a democratic system. All the citizens of the nation

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have an access to the information regarding the parties and the policies. According to
Bickerton, it also allows the individuals of the country to participate in all kinds of open, and
public gatherings. It helps to promote all kinds of political, social, economic, cultural and
general well-being of the Canadian people (Barnes). The Liberal democracy also strives to
provide a national, flexible democratic structure to the citizens which would allow and permit
the people to participate and involve themselves in open discussions and both the electoral as
well as non-electoral gatherings.
The Liberal form of Government is thus a form of government which says that the
government is made by the people, elected by the common people as well as rules by them. It
takes care and safeguards the freedom and individual rights of the common people and allows
them the liberty , and makes sure that the dignity of the people are maintained. The citizens
of the Canada enjoy the Liberal form of democracy which reflect all the basic principles of
liberalism. In spite of the constitutional monarchy, the individuals of the nation enjoy the
freedom of expression as well as freedom to elect their own government.

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Overview. 2016, http://publications.gc.ca/pub?id=9.820412&sl=0. Accessed 29 July
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Proclamation. 2015,
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Barnes, Andre. Members Of The House Of Commons: Their Roles. 2011,
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Bell, Duncan. "What is liberalism?." Political theory 42.6 (2014): 682-715.
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Cram, Ian. Contested words: legal restrictions on freedom of speech in liberal democracies.
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Dickerson, Mark O., Thomas Flanagan, and Brenda O'Neill. An introduction to government
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Dobuzinskis, Laurent, and Michael Howlett, eds. Policy analysis in Canada. Policy Press,
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Forsey, Eugene. "How Canadians govern themselves." (2005).
Galston, William A. "The populist challenge to liberal democracy." Journal of
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