Levels of Government and Responsiblities

Local or municipal government plays an important role in the lives of our citizens. Municipal governments usually have a council that passes laws called "by-laws" that affect only the local community. The council usually includes a mayor (or a reeve) and councillors or aldermen. Municipalities are normally responsible for urban or regional planning, streets and roads, sanitation (such as garbage removal), snow-removal, firefighting, ambulance and other emergency services, recreation facilities, urban transit, and some local health and social services. Most major urban centres have municipal police forces.

Provincial, territorial and municipal elections are held by secret ballot, but the rules are not the same as those for federal elections. It is important to find out the rules for voting in provincial, territorial and local elections so that you can exercise your right to vote.

The First Nations have band chiefs and councillors regional and national Aboriginal organizations who have major responsibilities on First Nations that are a voice for First Nations, Métis and Inuit reserves, including housing, schools and other people in their relationships with the federal, services.

There are a number of provincial, provincial and territorial governments.

• Members of Parliament
  * National Defence
  * International Trade (MPs)
  * Foreign Policy
  * Aboriginal Affairs
  * Citizenship
  * Immigration (shared)
  * Policing
  * Agriculture (shared)
  * Criminal Justice
  * Environment (shared)

• Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)
  * Education
  * Health Care

• Members of the National Assembly (MNA)
  * Natural Resources
  * Highways

• Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPP)
  * Policing
  * Property and Civil Rights

• Members of the House Assembly (MHA)
  * Immigration (shared)
  * Agriculture (shared)
  * Environment (shared)

• Mayor or Reeve
  * Social and Community Health
  * Policing

• Councillors or Aldermen
  * Recycling Programs
  * Firefighting
  * Transportation and Utilities
  * Emergency Services
  * Snow Removal