About Government

Canada is a land of optimism, cooperation, ambition and perseverance. This is aided by a supportive government.

Canada has three levels of government: the federal government, provincial and territorial governments as well as municipal governments. The responsibilities of the federal government include national defence, interprovincial and international trade and commerce, immigration, the banking and monetary system, criminal law and fisheries.

Canada has a federal form of democratic government that brings together a number of different political communities under a common government for mutual purposes, and separate regional governments for the particular needs of each region. It takes into account Canada's geographical realities, the diversity of its cultural communities and its dual legal and linguistic heritage.

Within the federal structure, elected officials – the Cabinet of ministers under the leadership of the Prime Minister– make up the chief decision-making body. Through consultation with other elected officials, provincial and municipal representatives as well as Canadians in general, the federal government leads the country's democratic system of governance.

The principal role of the Canadian government is to ensure and support the country's economic performance. Other responsibilities include national defence, interprovincial and international trade and commerce, immigration, the banking and monetary system, criminal law and fisheries. The federal government also oversees such industries as aeronautics, shipping, railways, telecommunications and atomic energy.

Provincial and territorial governments organize themselves similarly to the federal structure and are responsible for such matters as education, property and civil rights, the administration of justice, the hospital system, natural resources within their borders, social security, health and municipal institutions.

Recently, the federal government has begun transferring greater responsibility for some programs and services to the provinces. Examples of some of the areas in which these changes are taking place include labour-market training as well as mining and forestry development.

Local and regional governments play a significant role in areas such as the delivery of education, land development, local business regulations as well as civic and cultural activities, to name a few. The structures of local and regional governments vary more widely throughout the country.