Politics of Manitoba | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Polity type | Province within a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
| Constitution | Constitution of Canada |
| Legislative branch | |
| Name | Legislature |
| Type | Unicameral |
| Meeting place | Manitoba Legislative Building, Winnipeg |
| Presiding officer | Speaker of the Legislative Assembly |
| Executive branch | |
| Head of state | |
| Currently | King Charles III represented by Anita Neville, Lieutenant Governor |
| Head of government | |
| Currently | Premier Wab Kinew |
| Appointer | Lieutenant Governor |
| Cabinet | |
| Name | Executive Council |
| Leader | Premier (as President of the Executive Council) |
| Appointer | Lieutenant Governor |
| Headquarters | Winnipeg |
| Judicial branch | |
| Court of Appeal | |
| Chief judge | Marianne Rivoalen |
| Seat | Law Courts Building, Winnipeg |
The Province of Manitoba, similar to other Canadian provinces and territories, is governed through a Westminster-based parliamentary system. The Manitoba government's authority to conduct provincial affairs is derived from the Constitution of Canada, which divides legislative powers among the federal parliament and the provincial legislatures. Manitoba operates through three branches of government: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. The executive branch—the Government of Manitoba—consists of the Executive Council and the Premier, who is the head of government and the President of the Executive Council. The legislative branch—the Manitoba Legislature—is composed of the Lieutenant Governor and the Legislative Assembly, which is composed of the 57 members (MLAs) elected to represent the people of Manitoba, as well as the Speaker, the Clerk, the Officers of the Legislative Assembly, and the employees of the legislative service.[1]
The judicial arm consists of the Chief Justice and the judges who preside over the courts. These three branches are linked through the Crown, which is the head of state and represented by the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba.[2] Under section 23 of the 1870 Manitoba Act (which is part of the Constitution of Canada), both English and French are official languages of the legislature and courts of Manitoba.
Manitoba's primary political parties are the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Progressive Conservative Party (PC). The premier of Manitoba is Wab Kinew, who leads the NDP with 34 seats. The last general election was held on October 3, 2023.
Manitoba is represented in federal politics by fourteen Members of Parliament and six Senators.[3][4][5]
- ^ Hogg, Peter W. Necessity in Manitoba: The Role of Courts in Formative or Crisis Periods. In: Shimon Shetreet. The Role of Courts in Society. Aspen Publishing; 1988. ISBN 90-247-3670-6. p. 9.
- ^ "Roles and Responsibilities." Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba. Retrieved 2021 January 29. Archived from the original on 2009-11-13.
- ^ Parliamentary Institutions - Canadian Parliamentary Institutions.
- ^ Government of Canada. Members of Parliament [archived 2011-04-24; Retrieved 2009-11-12].
- ^ Government of Canada. Senators [Retrieved 2009-11-12].