Canadian
Provincial Governments:
Canada is
not only an independent sovereign democracy, but is also a
federal state, with 10 largely self-governing provinces and
three territories controlled by the federal government.
Each province
has its own legislature, with a Lieutenant-Governor representing
the Queen. In every province except Ontario, the legislature
consists of an appointed Legislative Council and an elected
Legislative Assembly. The provincial leader of each provincial
government is called a Premier.
Provincial
legislatures do not have a Senate. In order for provincial
legislation to become law, it needs approval from the provincial
Legislative Assembly and from the Lieutenant-Governor of the
province.
Canada's
territories (Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory, and Nunavut)
are not sovereign units; their powers are delegated by the
Canadian Parliament. The territories also have elected Assemblies
and follow many of the same practices as the provincial and
federal governments.
Canadian
Provincial Elections:
At the local
levels of government, elections are usually held every two
or three years. For provincial or municipal elections, the
age and citizenship requirements for voting in an election
may vary.
Canadian
Provincial Government Responsibilities:
Although
the Canadian federal government carries the responsibility
of regulating some of the most crucial services provided at
the national level, the Canadian Provincial Governments have
a large amount of autonomy and are responsible for the following
aspects of their own provincial management:
- Labour
legislations (minimum wage, maximum hours)
- Social
security
- Direct
taxation
- Natural
resources
- Prisons
(except penitentiaries)
- Charitable
institutions
- Hospitals
- Municipal
institutions
- Licenses
for provincial and municipal revenue purposes
- Incorporation
of provincial companies
- Marriage,
civil and property rights
- Civil
law (courts, fines, and penalties for breaking provincial
laws)
- Education
Canadian
Provincial Governments:
Canada currently has
10 provinces and 3 provincial territories, each having joined
the federation at different points in Canadian history. Here
is a list of links to the official government websites of
each Canadian provicial government:
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