Sociological Perspectives on Canadian Government and Politics - Essay

This essay provides a sociological analysis of the role of government and politics in Canada, examining it through three distinct theoretical lenses: structuralism, critical sociology, and symbolic interactionism. The structuralist perspective highlights the constitutional framework, federal divisions, and the historical evolution of Canada's government, including the influence of the British parliamentary system. The critical sociological overview delves into the legislative and executive powers, the parliamentary democratic system, and the impact of political scandals and electoral reforms, such as those related to campaign finance. The symbolic interactionist perspective focuses on citizen participation, voting rights, and the influence of democratic ideals from the United Kingdom and the United States, including the election process and the role of special ballots. The essay also extends the analysis to the healthcare system, examining its structure, challenges, and social implications from each of the sociological perspectives. It explores the publicly funded healthcare system, the role of the Medical Council of Canada, and issues such as accessibility, gender gaps, and the impact of medical tourism, drawing on relevant literature and providing a comprehensive understanding of these multifaceted issues in the Canadian context.

Running head: SOCIOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING
SOCIOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

SOCIOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING
How would a structuralist, a critical sociologist, and a symbolic interactionist
understand the role of government and politics in Canada?
Structuralist understanding:
Canada is an independent State, in 1867 the British North America Act (BNA Act) and
the Constitution of the Canada united the British Colonies that is the Province of Canada,
including the Upper Canada (Ontario) and Lower Canada (Quebec), Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick. Canada has been a very peaceful state. The whole country is in form of a federation,
which means that the powers of the government of Canada is divided and conglomerated into
one. The division is based on two types central and the provinces. The central fall under the
federal divisions and the 10 provinces are – British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba,
Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfounland and
Labrador. (Ritzer & Stepnisky 2017).
In the constitution the powers of the federal government and the ten provinces are
included. There are three territories that fall under the country, they are- Yukon, Northwest
Territories and Nunavut. All these territories are controlled and governed by the federal
government. The jurisdictions also gets applied by them. The territories does not fall under the
BNA Act. It is by far known that Elizabeth II is Canada’s head of the state. In past the Canadian
Constitution was controlled and composed by the British Sovereign. But that has been changed
later and the Constitution has reformed its previous version of constitution, and it took up
materials to amend its constitution, following an agreement between the federal government and
the ten provinces. (Malcolmson, Myers, Baier & Bateman 2016).

SOCIOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING
Canada’s system of government is inspired from the British Parliamentary System which
is very ‘strongly embedded into the constitution. The Parliament of Canada includes two houses
that are:
1. The House of Commons (that is the Lower House) comprising of 308 elected members.
2. The Senate (Upper House) including 105 members appointed by the Prime Minister and
representing all he regions of the country.
Critical Sociological Overview:
The country of Canada falls under the two types of Powers- the Legislative and the
Executive power. These two type of Powers are considerate in running the Country. The power
revolves round these two modes and tree are several rules and regulation which they have to
abide by for governing the country. Canada is a parliamentary democratic country, but the head
of the Constitution is the Queen Elizabeth II. Bills are passed leading the process of discussions,
debates, and finally studying them fully in committees, then proposing amendments and judging
them to pass or fail them. The government usually, introduce their bills but the opposition
members of the party can also propose or introduce a new bill on their behalf. (Idemudia &
Kwakyewah, 2018).
The opposition party can only be recognized by analyzing the second most number of
seats. The head of that party becomes the leader of the Opposition. The basic Criteria for the
qualification of the party as to be an official party status the party must win 12 seats. The
problem arises if the number of the parties increase. Then the allotment or the measure becomes
viable and becomes to be revised. (Dodek, 2016).

SOCIOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING
The amendment of the Canadian Election Act basically due to the wake of sponsorship
scandal as there were various controversies regarding this topic. The use of sponsors and then
misleading the mass by taking advantage of it, is equally misleading and corrupting. Due this
scandal the governing Liberals were well tarnished in the mid of the 2000’s. To avoid this type
of mishap the country prohibits the contribution from the corporations, any unions and other
association or organizations. Individual contributions are only allowed that to, to a certain limit,
not exceeding anything above that. Later the funding from the corporations and other trusts or
unions was banned, wherein the public funding and individual donations was increased and
encouraged. Direct public funding of the political parties was also increased. (Cochrane, Dyck &
Blidook, 2015).
Symbolic Interactionist overview:
The people of Canada are liable to vote aging 18years or older than that limit. Thus the
leniency is maintained. The inmates or the prisioners are confined to vote s well this has been
included in the Canadian Constitution giving priority to the need of people to vote and be
responsible as citizens of Canada. Thus the people of Canada are very strong willed and also
they produce and exercise their rights that influences them and also streamline their way of
living. The impressionistic overview is a lot influenced by the democracy of United Kingdoms
and also that of United States of America.
The election process is also lot like that of other international methods of electing. The
election takes place in the method of Special- ballot system. The special ballot polling stations is
selected and for their convenience they can easily choose and register stations according to their
won will, which will obviously be decided according to the majority of the collective choice. If
there are any problems or technical difficulties or for registering their own names the people of

SOCIOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING
Canada can go to their registered polling stations, they can be assisted prior to six days of day of
election, polling station remain closed during that time and no changes or appeals can be made.
The electors are provided with the blank papers and they have to write the name of the candidate
they want to elect according to their choice. Thus the impressionistic impact on the Canadian
Republic is massive and very effective as well.
Health and medicine in Canada:
Structuralist overview:
Canada has been lot more developed and also a lot more advanced compared to other
countries. The Canadian Healthcare is processed through thirteen provincial and territorial
systems throughout the country. There are various publicly funded healthcare units across the
country of Canada. It is being guided by the Canada Health Act of 1984. It is a universal code of
conduct. There are a lot of moralities that has to be engaged in to the medical board of Canada.
Even though the medical and health department is quite well established. The medical Council of
Canada (MCC), strives to achieve the highest level of medical care for Canadians through
excellence in assessment of physicians. The MCC maintains the Canadian Medical Register, in
which medical graduates are inscribed when they fulfil the MCC’s requirements. Additionally,
the MCC supports research and development to ensure it remains at the forefront of innovation
in medical assessments.
The MCC 360 is a national multisource feedback program to evaluate physician
workplace performance in their roles as communicator, collaborator and as professionals. MCC
360 was launched with the goal of making a significant impact on continuing professional

SOCIOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING
development and in-practice assessment in medicine. Thus the council produces a suitable
environment for the young scholars and therefore the working rate and the functional ability of
the board has increased.
The founder of the MCC, is Sir Thomas Roddick who along with his colleagues that a
medical is in need for the country of Canada. A very complex and difficult campaign that was
put forward by the team of Roddick performed for 18 years and finally got the agreement on
legislation and regulations for a national qualification in medicine that would be acceptable in all
provinces. Therefore in 1912, the legislation finally passed the bill and gave the scope for the
establishment of a uniform system that would be functioning for the physician assessment and
practice of medicine for all the people of Canada.
Critical Sociological Overview:
Being one of the most facilitated healthcare establishments and boards in the world,
Canada has progressed a lot and also there are a few disputes as well and some problems that has
popped up in recent hampering the motive of that of the medical board. This has resulted into
bringing in several shortcomings in the medical and health care unit of Canada. There are certain
areas in the country of Canada where there are not that much accessible to the Health Care Units.
Improvement needs to be done there. Thus the coverage and also the accessibility of the care and
medication cannot reach on time. The government has taken actions regarding that fact. The
limited coverage of the health units limits the coverage of the area of the region where it is
situated. Portable and provincial residency requirements is of a demand that needs to be seen and
taken care of. If that can be introduced ten the transportability and the accessibility of the
patients becomes a lot easier.

SOCIOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING
Gender gap in healthcare is a massive issue that can be taken as taken as one of the prime
problems or hurdles that comes in the path of the progress in health and care units in Canada.
Requirements for Women Additional such as pregnancy somehow exacerbates the gender gap as
there are a lot women receiving the health care compared to that of the men in the society. Thus
the generation gap is a big hurdle that has become problematic to breach. Along with that men
receive different wait times compared to that of the women.
Inequality in the LGBT community is a very sensible issue that has to be dealt with the
medical boards of Canada. The community problem has started to banish as people from
different countries are coming up and lending hand to those who need it the most. The
neighboring country of Canada, USA has handled the situation more maturely, still they are
dealing with problems but they have started analyzing these problems and have resolved a lot.
(Martin, Miller, Quesnel-Vallée, Caron, Vissandjée & Marchildon, 2018).
Symbolic Interactionist overview:
The border of Canada and USA represents the boundary line for the medical tourism.
This is accessed by the citizens of the Canada as well as that of USA. The country’s citizens seek
help from there as the health care is a lot cheaper than that of the other health care units.
Therefore the popularity has reached a great height and hence the inclusion of people has
increased a lot. The health care given here is very much reliable since it is for a greater mass and
concerned for their safety and health issues as well. Healthcare is much affordable and more
available.
Many citizens of the United States of America come to Canada for health care related
reasons, similarly Canadians also go to US for having health care. Many US citizens get their
prescription drugs from Canada. Either they rely on the internet or they travel to Canada in

SOCIOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING
person. The impression of Americans on Canadians is a lot. Therefore the interaction happens a
lot and the people get influenced and encouraged to rely and keep hope and re trying hard for
their loved to help them with their weakness.
Not only that the drug price in Canada is comparatively lower than that of the US, alog
with the prescription prices as well. This cross-border purchasing has been estimated to be at $1
billion annually.

SOCIOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING
References:
Cochrane, C., Dyck, P. R., & Blidook, K. (2015). Canadian politics: Critical approaches. Nelson
Education.
Dodek, A. (2016). The Canadian Constitution. Dundurn.
Idemudia, U., & Kwakyewah, C. (2018). Analysis of the Canadian national corporate social
responsibility strategy: Insights and implications. Corporate Social Responsibility and
Environmental Management, 25(5), 928-938.
Malcolmson, P., Myers, R., Baier, G., & Bateman, T. (2016). The Canadian regime: An
introduction to parliamentary government in Canada. University of Toronto Press.
Martin, D., Miller, A. P., Quesnel-Vallée, A., Caron, N. R., Vissandjée, B., & Marchildon, G. P.
(2018). Canada's universal health-care system: achieving its potential. The Lancet,
391(10131), 1718-1735.
Ritzer, G., & Stepnisky, J. (2017). Modern sociological theory. Sage publications.