GRADE 6 - GOVERNMENT
The grade 6 students are creating RSA ANIMATE and COMMON CRAFT videos stepping us through the 3 levels of government: Local, Provincial, and Federal. Some groups will be examining each level through a common lens, such as power, participation, or responsibility (among others). Other students decided to just share what each level is in an engaging and interesting way!
Below is information and links about each level. Students, if you find extra links, please add them to our digital resources by filling in this FORM!
Below is information and links about each level. Students, if you find extra links, please add them to our digital resources by filling in this FORM!
Local Government (PG 110)
The local government is set up differently depending on where your local is! If you are in rural Alberta, a First Nations reserve, or a city it looks slightly different. For information about the elected officials, refer to page 110 of your textbook to see how each is organized!
Who do we elect? What are COMMITTEES? (PG 110, 111, 114)
(For an interesting conversation about how we elect, check out page 114)
A ward is an area in the city. We elect someone to represent our ward and to make decisions for us. This person is called an Alderman or a City Councilor. We also elect a mayor to lead the city council (mayor and city councilors) in making decisions. Furthermore, we elect a Schoolboard Trustee to make decisions about education in our area (check out page 121 to learn WHY we elect trustees!).
Committees are made up of city councillors and other specialized city employees. They talk about important issues in the city and create recommendations for city council. For example, public transportation and parks and recreation.
Advisory Committees are specialist committees like the "police commission, library board, or arts foundation" (Page 111).
A ward is an area in the city. We elect someone to represent our ward and to make decisions for us. This person is called an Alderman or a City Councilor. We also elect a mayor to lead the city council (mayor and city councilors) in making decisions. Furthermore, we elect a Schoolboard Trustee to make decisions about education in our area (check out page 121 to learn WHY we elect trustees!).
Committees are made up of city councillors and other specialized city employees. They talk about important issues in the city and create recommendations for city council. For example, public transportation and parks and recreation.
Advisory Committees are specialist committees like the "police commission, library board, or arts foundation" (Page 111).
Services (Pg 102) and Departments (PG 112, 113)
Can you imagine if people from Ottawa told us here in Calgary how our cities should operate? If they dictated how our citizens should behave in our city? I don't think things would go all that well. Local decisions are made by the local government because the needs of the local citizens are different here than they are in other places around the country. As a result, our local government is in charge of different services that meet the needs of its constituents.
Here is a list of services:
-Public Transportation
-Fire Protection
-Waste Disposal
-Parks and Recreation
-Animal Control
-Libraries
-Streets and Roads
-Seniors' Facilities
Departments are big units of the city. They deal directly with things like "Finance, Corporate Affairs, Parks and Recreation, Land Development, Planning and Public Works, Planning and Development, Engineering and Transportation, and Utilities and Environment" (PG 113).
Here is a list of services:
-Public Transportation
-Fire Protection
-Waste Disposal
-Parks and Recreation
-Animal Control
-Libraries
-Streets and Roads
-Seniors' Facilities
Departments are big units of the city. They deal directly with things like "Finance, Corporate Affairs, Parks and Recreation, Land Development, Planning and Public Works, Planning and Development, Engineering and Transportation, and Utilities and Environment" (PG 113).
Funding (PG 103)
The local government needs money for all those services. The money comes from property taxes, and from other levels of government (think about all those big signs you see on Highway 22 that say "90% funded by the Alberta Government, 10% funded by the City of Calgary". For a detailed breakdown of how Lethbridge gets its money, check out page 103.
Making bylaws (Page 104-105)
Bylaws are laws made locally to clarify how people should behave. If these laws are made in Calgary, they don't effect those in Edmonton, for example. They are made by representatives for the local people. How far can people park from a curb? Where do school zones start/stop? Where can't you skateboard/rollerblade in the city? What happens if you don't pick up your dogs poop? How late can kids stay out? Bylaws address all of these things to meet the needs of the people living there and to address issues (PG 104).
Bylaws are introduced by a councilor at a council meeting. More information for this can be found on page 105.
Bylaws are introduced by a councilor at a council meeting. More information for this can be found on page 105.
How we participate (115)
Even though you're in the 6th grade, it doesn't mean you can't participate. You have sway, even if you don't think so! Call your councillor, create a petition, write letters, create a presentation, and most importantly, just talk about it! Your parents can vote. Maybe a cousin is over 18. Your teacher values your thoughts! Plus, you learn by talking, so just talking about it, thinking about it, and always learning is a great way for you to participate.