The Levels of Government
Federal
Provincial
Municipal
Canada has a Federal System of government.
What does this mean?
We have more than one level of government!
In fact, we have 3:
Federal
Provincial
Municipal
The Federal Government
This is the level of government that is responsible for
issues that are important to all Canadians. These are issues
that are best handled nationally.
The federal government is lead by the Prime Minister and
is based in the capital city of Canada, Ottawa.
The federal government has three key components:
The House of Commons
The Senate
The Governor General
The Provincial Government
This is the level of government that is responsible for
issues that are important in one province or territory.
These are usually issues that are best handled locally.
The provincial government is lead by the Premier and is
based in the capital city of each province (in BC, that
would be Victoria).
The provincial government has two key components:
The Legislative Assembly
The Lieutenant Governor
The Municipal Government
This is the level of government that is responsible for issues
that are important in one town or city.
The municipal government is lead by the Mayor.
The municipal government has one key component:
The city or town council
*It is important to remember that many Aboriginal bands have
their own form of local government. This is lead by a Chief and a
Band Council.
The three levels of
government have different
responsibilities!
What is the federal government responsible for?
National Defence
Foreign Policy
Aboriginal Affairs
Postal Services
Banking System
Criminal Law
Marriage and Divorce Law
Federal Prisons
What is the provincial government responsible for?
Education
Health Services and Hospitals
Licences
Highways
Provincial Police and Prisons
Provincial Courts
Charities
The federal and provincial governments also share
some responsibilities:
Immigration
Agriculture
Health Care
Natural Resources
Environmental Issues
What is the municipal government responsible for?
Garbage Collection
Sewage Treatment
Water Supply
Establishment of Schools
Fire Protection
Residual Powers
•At the time of Confederation (1867), the people who
created Canada decided that all residual (leftover)
powers should be left to the federal government.
•This is why the federal government is also
responsible for
•Telecommunications
•Information Services