Canada is both an authoritarian and antiauthoritarian state.

In an authoritarian state an elite holds political power and citizens have little or no part in the political process. Authoritarianism is the opposite of democracy. Canada, on the other hand, is a democratic country that prides itself on citizens' opinions that have at least some part in the political process. But based on the characteristics of an authoritarian state - the supremacy of the state, collective society, changing leadership - Canada seems to be …

…country that has to have elections by law. ("The date of a general election is set by the Governor in Council. According to section 4(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, "no House of Commons and no legislative assembly shall continue for longer than five years from the date fixed for the return of the writs of a general election of its members." This date was fixed to December 18, 2000 for the November 27, 2000 general election." ).