The Three Levels of Government in Canada

Canada has three levels of government: federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal. Each has its own responsibilities, and the citizenship test often asks you to know who does what.

The federal government

The federal government, based in Ottawa, handles matters that affect the whole country. This includes citizenship, defence, foreign policy and criminal law. This is the level where the Parliament of Canada sits.

These responsibilities apply to all Canadians, no matter which province or territory they live in.

Provincial and territorial governments

Provinces and territories manage services close to daily life. They are responsible for education, health care and highways. That is why these services can differ from one province to another.

• Federal: citizenship, defence, foreign policy, criminal law.
• Provincial and territorial: education, health care, highways.
• Municipal: fire services, garbage collection, local public transit.

Municipal government

Municipal, or local, government handles neighbourhood services. It looks after things like fire services, garbage collection and local public transit. It is the level closest to citizens in daily life.

To place these levels within the wider political system, see the guide Canada Explained and our article on the three branches of government.

Remembering who does what

A simple trick is to match each service with the right level. Health care and education go with the provincial level, defence and citizenship with the federal level, and garbage collection with the municipal level. Practise with our chapter quizzes to lock in these markers.

Frequently asked questions

What are the three levels of government in Canada? The three levels are federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal (local). Each has its own responsibilities.

Who handles health care and education? Provincial and territorial governments handle health care, education and highways.

What does municipal government do? Municipal government handles local matters such as fire services, garbage collection and local public transit.