Canadian government has many titles that sound alike: Prime Minister and Premier, Governor General and Lieutenant Governor, MP and MPP. Test questions often use these pairs to catch people out. This article puts every title side by side, shows which level of government does what, and then explains how to find the people who represent you. For the full chapter summary, see How Canadians Govern Themselves.
Three levels of government
Canada is a federal state. In 1867 the British North America Act (today called the Constitution Act, 1867) divided power between two levels: the federal government in Ottawa and the provincial governments. A third level, municipal government, runs cities and towns. Municipalities get their powers from the province, not from Ottawa.
- Federal: Parliament in Ottawa makes laws for the whole country.
- Provincial and territorial: each province and territory has its own legislature in its capital city.
- Municipal: a city or town council makes local laws called by-laws.
The three territories also have elected legislatures, but there is one difference: the provinces get their powers from the Constitution, while the territories use powers that Parliament gives (delegates) to them.
Who is responsible for what
| Level | Main responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Federal | National defence, foreign policy, citizenship, currency (money), criminal law, navigation, and trade and communications between provinces |
| Provincial | Education, health care, natural resources, highways, property and civil rights, and municipal government |
| Shared (federal and provincial) | Agriculture and immigration |
| Municipal | Streets and local roads, snow and garbage removal, firefighting, ambulance and other emergency services, public transit, recreation facilities and local planning |
| First Nations reserves | Band chiefs and councillors have major responsibilities, such as housing, schools and other services |
Policing is a good example of how the levels work together. The RCMP enforces federal laws everywhere in Canada. Only Ontario and Quebec have their own provincial police forces; in the other provinces and in the territories, the RCMP acts as the provincial or territorial police. Many cities and towns also have their own municipal police.
A quick way to remember
- Is it about the whole country, or about other countries? Usually federal (defence, foreign policy, money, citizenship).
- Is it about your school or your hospital? Provincial.
- Is it right outside your front door (snow, garbage, the bus)? Municipal.
- Only two areas are shared: agriculture and immigration.
Head of state vs head of government
Canada is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the Sovereign, King Charles III. The position is hereditary, and the King stays out of party politics. He is a symbol of Canada’s sovereignty and a focus of citizenship and loyalty.
The head of government is the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister chooses the Cabinet ministers and is responsible for how the government is run day to day. Canada has no president.
The King is represented in Canada by the Governor General (for the whole country) and by a Lieutenant Governor in each province. These representatives are not the head of state and not the head of government. They act on the King’s behalf.
Titles at a glance
| Title | Level | Role and how chosen |
|---|---|---|
| The King (the Sovereign) | All of Canada | Head of state and one of the three parts of Parliament. Hereditary. |
| Governor General | Federal | Represents the King. Gives Royal Assent to federal bills and usually reads the Speech from the Throne. Appointed by the King on the Prime Minister’s advice, normally for about five years. |
| Lieutenant Governor | Provincial (one in each of the 10 provinces) | Represents the King in one province and gives Royal Assent to provincial laws. Appointed by the Governor General on the Prime Minister’s advice. |
| Commissioner | Territorial (one in each of the 3 territories) | Represents the federal government in a territory and has a ceremonial role. Appointed, not elected. |
| Prime Minister | Federal | Head of government; chooses the Cabinet. Normally the leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons. |
| Premier | Provincial | Head of a provincial government, with a role like the Prime Minister’s. Leads the party that can govern in the provincial legislature. |
| Cabinet minister | Federal (provinces have their own ministers) | Leads an area of government. With the Prime Minister, prepares the budget and proposes most new laws. Chosen by the Prime Minister. |
| Member of Parliament (MP) | Federal | Represents one riding (electoral district) in the House of Commons. Elected by the voters of that riding. |
| MLA, MPP, MNA or MHA | Provincial or territorial | Represents one district in a provincial or territorial legislature. Elected. |
| Senator | Federal | Sits in the Senate, which also studies and passes bills. Appointed by the Governor General on the Prime Minister’s advice; may serve until age 75. Never elected. |
| Speaker | Federal (each legislature has one) | Chairs the debates in the House of Commons and keeps order. Chosen by the other members. |
| Mayor (or reeve) and councillors | Municipal | Lead the city or town council and pass by-laws. Elected by local voters. |
| Band chief and councillors | First Nations | Run services on a reserve, such as housing and schools. |
MLA, MPP, MNA, MHA: one job, four names
A member of a provincial or territorial legislature has a different title depending on where you live:
- MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly): most provinces and the territories
- MPP (Member of Provincial Parliament): Ontario
- MNA (Member of the National Assembly): Quebec
- MHA (Member of the House of Assembly): Newfoundland and Labrador
Do not confuse them with an MP, who sits in the federal House of Commons in Ottawa.
Pairs people often mix up
- Prime Minister vs Premier: the Prime Minister leads Canada; a Premier leads one province.
- Governor General vs Lieutenant Governor vs Commissioner: the first represents the King for all of Canada, the second in a province, and the third represents the federal government in a territory. So there are 10 Lieutenant Governors, not 13.
- MP vs senator: MPs are elected; senators are appointed.
- The three parts of Parliament are the Sovereign, the Senate and the House of Commons. The Prime Minister is not a separate part.
For more traps like these, read Commonly confused facts. For how MPs are elected and how a government is formed, see Federal Elections.
Find your own representatives
Discover Canada asks readers to find out who represents them at each level, from their MP to their mayor. This site does not print current names, because they change after every election or appointment. Instead, here is how to look them up yourself in a few minutes.
- Your MP and your riding. Go to the House of Commons Members of Parliament page and search with your postal code. It shows your riding’s name and your MP. Elections Canada’s website can also tell you your riding.
- The Prime Minister and the Governor General. Both have official Government of Canada websites. A quick search for “Prime Minister of Canada” or “Governor General of Canada” will find them.
- Your Premier and your MLA (MPP, MNA or MHA). Visit your province’s or territory’s legislative assembly website. Most have a “find your member” search by address or postal code. The same site usually names the Premier and the Lieutenant Governor (or, in a territory, the Commissioner).
- Your mayor and councillor. Check your city or town website. Many cities are divided into wards, and each ward elects a councillor.
- If you belong to a First Nation, your band office can tell you who the chief and councillors are.
Make a “my representatives” card
Write the answers on a small card and keep it with your study notes:
- Head of state: King Charles III
- Governor General: ________
- Prime Minister: ________
- My riding: ________ — my MP: ________
- Lieutenant Governor (or Commissioner): ________
- Premier: ________
- My MLA / MPP / MNA / MHA: ________
- Mayor: ________ — my councillor: ________
Next to each name, also write the level and whether the person is elected or appointed. Many test questions are about exactly these two points. Look the names up again shortly before your test, because an election may have changed them.
Ready to check yourself? Try a practice test and watch for the government questions.
این راهنما خلاصهای ساده است و مشاوره حقوقی نیست. قوانین و هزینهها ممکن است تغییر کنند — پیش از درخواست یا پرداخت، همیشه در وبسایت رسمی IRCC تأیید کنید.