Chapter 6: Canada in the Contemporary World What is Government Chapter 6: Canada in the Contemporary World

Why does Canada have different levels of government? Canada has three levels of government. Federal government (for all of Canada) Provincial or territorial government (for a province or territory) Municipal or local government (for local communities) https://youtu.be/YNMAasqiv9Y

Why does Canada have different levels of government? In 1867 the Confederation – constitution creates two levels of government Federal (national) Provincial This system is called federalism The Hudson’s Bay Company controlled the northern territory land https://youtu.be/ThlySklYS98

The dates the provinces and territories joined Canada 1867 – Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia 1870 – Manitoba 1871 – British Columbia 1873 - Prince Edward Island 1898 – Yukon Territory 1905 – Alberta, Saskatchewan 1949 – Newfoundland 1999 - Nunavut

Why does Canada have different levels of government? Local or municipal governments can be created or changed by provinces or territories These include: Cities Towns Villages Rural communities

Why does Canada have different levels of government? Aboriginal bands or settlements are considered to be an additional “level” of government They are self-governing bodies that may be created and changed by the federal or provincial/territorial government that established them.

Aboriginal self-government In Canada, Aboriginal peoples have an inherent (existing) right to self-determination. Many of their systems were democratic. Aboriginal self-government is equal in status to that of the provinces within Canada’s federal system. Aboriginal self-government depends on the demographic concentration 85 % Nunavut – whole territory is self-governed Manitoba – varying degrees of self-government at the local level

Responsibilities of different levels of government British North America Act 1867 Confederation document Constitution Act It gave the Federal and Provincial governments responsibilities https://youtu.be/7C8uDuhLqvg

Responsibilities of the federal government The federal government makes decisions related to matters of nation- wide importance Foreign trade and relations Aboriginal peoples Defense Postal service Immigration Communications Unemployment Criminal law (Criminal Code) Currency (money)

Federal Revenue To pay for the service it provides, the federal government collects: Income taxes Goods and services tax (GST) Excise tax (taxes on certain foreign and domestic goods) The federal government transfers a portion of its revenues to: Individuals Provinces Territories

Federal Revenue Federal transfers to individuals are: Pensions Family allowance Employment insurance Federal transfers to provinces or territories Post-secondary education (this school in 1970) Health care Other programs “Equalization Payments” reduce economic disparity between have and have not provinces

Where do federal and provincial responsibilities overlap? Federal and provincial governments share responsibilities in some areas: Agriculture Environmental protection Highways Water Parks Police Marriage Rights and privileges (federal government) Officials, licences and registration (provincial government)

Responsibilities of Provincial and Territorial governments The responsibilities of the provinces and the territories are not identical but all make decisions related to: Property and civil rights Marriage licences Alcohol consumption Natural resources and environment Hospitals Health and welfare Education Driver education and licensing Provincial or territorial highways

Provincial and Territorial Revenue To pay for services, the provincial and territorial governments collect: Income tax Sales tax And hidden “sin taxes” such as Alcohol Tobacco Territory revenue comes mostly from federal transfer payments because of their small population

Responsibilities of Local Governments Local governments are responsible for services that affect their daily lives Police and fire departments Streets and roads Water and sewage Transit Garbage and recycling Libraries Recreation Local programs

Responsibilities of Aboriginal Governments Aboriginal local governments often have wider responsibilities than typical local governments They are responsible as a local government would be and for the following: Housing Oil Gas development Education

Local Revenue Local governments receive their revenue as: grants from the provincial government Revenue through property taxes Aboriginal councils receive funding from the federal government Some First Nations communities are exploring the idea of creating their own tax system

THE END What is government?