Election Time!

	A federal election is when everyone in the country over 18 votes for a party for the government. A provincial election is when everyone in a province over 18 votes for a party for the government. A party is a group of people who want to guide the country to make it better the party leader tries to get elected at the elections.
	Here are the main parties: Liberals: Still to be decided N.D.P: Jack Layton Bloc Quebecois: Gilles Duceppe Conservatives: Stephen Harper

The Prime Minister is the official leader of the country and right now Stephen Harper is the leader. He is part of the Conservatives and right now, of course, they are in power. The Prime Minister is elected by his party.

The government is the party that is in charge of Canada The government gives funding for education, medical care and much more.

The opposition party is a party who criticises the party in power and they point out everything the party in power is doing wrong. The opposition party right now is the Liberals. They criticize the Conservatives so that the Conservatives look bad, then maybe the will not be in power next election.

The Premier is the leader of each province, the premier can be from any party they get voted in at provincial elections. A provincial election is when people vote for someone to govern their province. Right now, Gordon Campbell is the Premier of B.C. The Premier gives funding to education, medical care, highways, parks, and things like that.

A riding is an area that an M.P. (Member of Parliament) wins. They then govern it. Randy Kamp is the M.P. of our riding (Pitt Meadows - Maple Ridge -Mission).

Anyone from a different country like the USA can't vote. They are not citizens of our country, so they are not allowed. You must apply for a citizenship.

The election time is very confusing and nerve wracking for the running parties, but it is for the better.

by Christine

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