Contact an Advisor

Invest Toronto's advisors are available to answer your questions.

Tel: +1 (416) 981-3888

Skype ID: investtoronto

Send us an email

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

This free, confidential, searchable site is your source for business and investment opportunities in Toronto. More Information

Print this Page
Understanding Municipal Government
add to kit
Canada has three levels of government: federal, provincial and municipal. Some responsibilities belong only to one level of government, while others are shared. The federal government, for example, has sole jurisdiction over the country's banks, airlines and telecommunications. Below is a chart illustrating some of the roles and responsibilities of each level of government.
Roles and Responsibilities in Canada Federal (F), Provincial (P), Municipal (M)
  F P M
Aboriginal peoples Yes Yes Yes
Administration of justice   Yes Yes
Agriculture Yes Yes  
Arts and culture facilities/events Yes Yes Yes
Bylaw Enforcement   Yes Yes
Direct taxation Yes Yes Yes
Economic development Yes Yes Yes
Emergency medical services     Yes
Emergency preparedness Yes Yes Yes
Environment Yes Yes Yes
Fire protection     Yes
Health care *   Yes Yes
Housing Yes Yes Yes
Hydro services   Yes Yes
Immigration Yes Yes Yes
Indirect taxation Yes Yes  
Industry Yes Yes Yes
Municipal institutions   Yes Yes
Municipal licensing (animal, building, business)     Yes
Municipal planning     Yes
Municipal streets and roads     Yes
Natural resources   Yes  
Parking     Yes
Parks and recreation     Yes
Pensions/income support * Yes Yes Yes
Policing Yes Yes Yes
Post-secondary education, training and research Yes Yes  
Primary and secondary education   Yes Yes
Public Health Yes Yes Yes
Public libraries     Yes
Public transit     Yes
Social assistance and social services   Yes Yes
Transportation infrastructure Yes Yes Yes
Waste and recycling services     Yes
Water and wastewater     Yes

Our cities, our future Addressing the fiscal imbalance in Canada's cities today, Big City Mayors' Caucus, June 2006
* provided by some municipalities

Top of page