2. Starting with You Local Municipality Ontario York Region Neighbourhood
People can begin to think about the structure of government by thinking about their own environment.
We all live in a community or neighbourhood that is located in a municipality. There are three types of municipalities: lower-tier, upper-tier and single-tier. Lower-tier and upper-tier municipalities are part of a two-tier municipal structure. Each type of municipal structure is located in a Province or Territory. There are 13 Provinces and Territories that makeup Canada.
Neighbourhood
Canada
You

3. Levels of Government Canadian Government Federal Provincial
Senate House of Commons
Legislative Assembly
Governor General
Prime Minister
Cabinet
Ministries
Territories
Lieutenant Governor
Premier
Cabinet
Ministries
Canada has three levels of government: federal, provincial and municipal.
There are 10 provinces and three territories in Canada. Like the federal government, each province and territory each has a parliamentary government.
At the federal level, the Governor General governs through a cabinet that is headed by a Prime Minister. If a national general election gives a party a clear majority of more than half the seats, in the House of Commons, the Governor General calls on the leader of the victorious party to become Prime Minister and form a new cabinet. The Prime Minister chooses the other Ministers, who are then formally appointed by the Governor General.
At the provincial level, the Lieutenant-Governor governs through a cabinet that is headed by a Premier. If a provincial general election gives a party a clear majority in the legislature, the Lieutenant-Governor calls on the leader of the victorious party to become Premier and form a new cabinet. The Premier chooses the other Ministers, who are appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor. 
The three northern territories, which have small populations, do not have the status of provinces, but their governments and assemblies carry out many of the same functions. In the three territories, the Commissioner represents the federal government and plays a ceremonial role.
If no party gets a clear majority after an election, two or more parties can form an alliance and govern as a minority government.
Municipal governments — cities, towns, villages, counties, districts, metropolitan regions — are set up by the provincial legislatures, and powers and direction are determined by the province.
For more information, please visit:
Municipalities

4. Responsibilities
Some examples of responsibilities for levels of government include:
Municipal
Federal
Provincial
Banking
Food Safety
National Defence
Postal Service
Radio and Telecommunication
Safety
Transportation
Environment
Energy Production
Hunting and Fishing
Provincial Court
Health Care
Charitable Institutions
Driver’s Licenses
Education
Water and Sewer Garbage Collection
City Parks
Fire Prevention
Roads and Sidewalks
Public Transportation
Building Permits and Zoning
In Canada, the federal level of government has authority over areas of law that generally affect the whole country, such as: the census, railways, patents, copyrights and the regulation of international and interprovincial trade. 
Each of the 10 provinces has its own legislature and is responsible for areas of law such as education, healthcare, marriage, property and civil rights in the province.
Some responsibilities, such as agriculture, immigration and some aspects of natural resources, are shared between the provincial and federal level of government. 
Municipal governments are responsible for the administration of a specific city, town, village, metropolitan region or district. Their powers are delegated to them by the corresponding provincial government. There are approximately 4,000 municipal governments across Canada. Municipalities are responsible for such services as libraries, local police, fire prevention, roads and sidewalks. 

5. Municipal Governments
The provincial government determines the powers of municipal governments.
Three Types of Municipal Councils:
Georgina
East Gwillimbury
Newmarket
Whitchurch-
Stouffville
There are three different types of municipal government structures: regional, counties and single-tier municipalities.
Regional
Some parts of Ontario have two municipal governments - a local municipal and regional government that service local municipalities together.
Services typically provided by regions include: arterial roads, transit, policing, sewer and water systems, waste disposal as well as housing and social services. Regional government can raise taxes to pay for services.
The municipalities within regions (lower-tier) are generally responsible for local roads, fire protection, garbage collection, recreation and local land use planning. These municipalities participate in the regional system. Lower-tier municipalities also raise taxes to pay for services.
Counties
Counties exist throughout Ontario. Local municipalities (cities, towns, villages, townships) within counties provide the majority of municipal services to residents. The services provided by county governments are usually limited to arterial roads, public health and social services, and county land-use planning. Local municipalities in counties raise taxes to pay for municipal, county and school board services.
Single-tier
Single-tier municipalities exist across Ontario and are responsible for all local services to their residents.
Aurora
King
Regional / Local
Counties
Single-Tier
Richmond
Hill
Markham
Vaughan

6. Role of Municipal Council
Represent the public
Develop and evaluate policies and programs
Determine services they deliver
Have policies, practices and procedures to act on Council decisions
Council
Be accountable and transparent
Municipalities are governed by municipal councils.
According to provincial laws, it is the role of a municipal council to:
Represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality
Develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality
Determine which services the municipality provides
Ensure that administrative policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council
Ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality
Maintain the financial integrity of the municipality and
Carry out the duties assigned to it by law.
Carry out duties determined by law
Maintain finances

7. The Head of Council may be called a Chair, Mayor, Reeve or Warden.
It is the role of the Head of Council to:
Act as the municipality’s chief executive officer
Preside over council meetings
Provide leadership, information and recommendations to the Council
Represent the municipality at official functions
The head of council may be called a Chair, Mayor, Reeve or Warden.
Wardens lead County Councils.
Mayors and Reeves lead single-tier Councils.
Chairs lead Regional Councils like York Region.
The role of head of council includes:
To act as the municipality’s chief executive officer
To preside over Council meetings
To provide the Council with leadership and information and recommendations to the council
To represent the municipality at official functions

8. Councillors Representative Role Policy-Making Role
Councillors have a representative, policy-making and stewardship role in each municipality.
Representative Role
Policy-Making Role
Councillors are elected by constituents to represent their views when dealing with issues at Council.
Councillors are expected to provide direction for municipal policies, including administration and guidance for future decisions.
Councillors have a representative, a policy-making, and a stewardship role to play in each municipality.
Representative Role:
Councillors are elected by constituents to represent their views as closely as possible when dealing with issues that come before Council.
Policy-Making Role:
Councillors also play a policy-decision making role on Council. Some policies can be specific, such as a bylaw requiring dogs to be kept on leashes in public areas. Others can be broader, such as approval of an official plan. Councillors also make decisions on routine administration of the municipality.

9. Municipal governments must balance their budget.
Municipal Budgets
Municipal governments go through a process every year to determine the next year’s budget.
What money will be raised through taxes, user fees and transfers from other levels of government
What each department, division and Council can spend
As with Regional government, municipalities go through a process every year that determines the following year’s budget – what each department, division and Council will spend.
Staff manages the budget process as set out by Council, including timelines, reporting and public consultations. It is a detailed process and staff continuously consult with the budget committee or Councils.
Staff develops a budget report (and in many cases a presentation) that includes information on the previous year’s activities and financial statements including departmental expenses, plus projections for the upcoming year.
Municipal governments must balance their budget.

10. Municipal Budgets Capital Budgets Operating Budget
Infrastructure and long-term financial planning including:
Debt repayment
Reserve fund requirements
Infrastructure projects such as community centres, roads, sidewalks
Day-to-day activities or operations including: Programs, services Utilities, rent, insurance Staff wages Revenues from taxes, fees
Municipal governments are responsible for capital and operating budgets.
Operating budgets are used to plan day-to-day activities of a municipal government, such as programs and services, staff salaries, utilities, rent and insurance. Operating budgets will include information on revenues, or money that a municipal government will raise, plus money that will be spent over the same time period.
Capital budgets focus on infrastructure that needs to be maintained like roads, plus new infrastructure, such as purchasing new land, buildings or equipment. Capital budgets also include long term financial planning including debt repayment and reserve fund needs.

11. More Information
For more information on local government, visit
The Regional Municipality of York Yonge Street Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 6Z