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

2. 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)

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. Responsibilities of different levels of government
British North America Act 1867
Confederation document
Constitution Act
It gave the Federal and Provincial governments responsibilities

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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)

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. THE END
What is government?