Does Ontario have 'incumbents'? | Nerds on Politics

Описание: Many assume Ontario politicians run for re-election as incumbents. But technically, they don’t. Why is that?

As Steve Paikin tells us in this TVO Nerds on Politics explainer, “incumbent” is a term Canadian federal and provincial politics have inherited from U.S. politics. In the United States, when a president, senator, governor, member of Congress, or a state legislature tries to get re-elected, they still have the job.

But in the Canadian federal and provincial election process, the House of Commons or legislature is dissolved when the prime minister meets the governor general -- or a premier meets their province’s lieutenant governor -- and asks that the writs be drawn up for an election. If a legislature is dissolved, that means there are no MPPs (in the case of Ontario), MPs (in the federal parliament), or MLAs (in the case of many other provinces).

Instead, those politicians are “former sitting members.” Is that pedantic? Sure. But that’s how our democratic political system and traditions, inherited from the United Kingdom, work.

This crash course is a good primer for anyone interested in elections in Canada, Canadian and Ontario democracy and government, the British parliamentary system, or people looking to learn about Canadian civics (the study of the rights and duties of citizenship).

00:00 Intro
00:12 Why the United States has incumbent politicians but Canada doesn’t
00:56 Why Canada and Ontario don’t have incumbent politicians
1:34 The Americanization of Canadian political systems and traditions
2:05 Are you an incumbent if you’re running for re-election?

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