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Ontario|Government & Justice SystemGovernment & Justice System 710 Canada's Government: Municipal, Provincial, Federal There are three levels of government in Canada: federal, provincial, and municipal. Each level of government sets certain types of laws and is responsible for certain types of issues.
- Federal government
Parliament passes all federal laws. Some of the areas of law that Parliament is responsible for include: criminal law, aboriginal issues, immigration, income taxes, and regulations affecting industries that are national or international. Members of Parliament, commonly called MPs, are representatives from ridings across Canada who sit in the House of Commons in Ottawa. The government is the party that holds the most seats in the House of Commons, and the Official Opposition is the party that holds the second highest number of seats. If you have a question or concern about a federal issue, you can contact your local Member of Parliament who is listed in the Blue pages of the telephone book.
- Provincial government
In Ontario, the Legislative Assembly passes provincial laws. Some of the areas of law that the province is responsible for include: family law, health law, labour standards, education, social services, and housing. Members of Provincial Parliament, commonly called MPPs, are representatives from ridings across Ontario who sit in Queen's Park in Toronto. If you have a question or concern about a provincial issue you can contact your local MPP who is listed in the Blue pages of the telephone book.
- Municipal government
Municipal governments are given their authority by the provincial government. Municipalities are responsible for property taxes, property standards, zoning, business licenses, and local bylaws. If you have a question or concern about a municipal issue, you can contact your city council representative, called a Councilor.
For additional information about the system of government in Canada, you can visit a local library or request materials from the federal Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration listed in the Blue pages of the telephone book.
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