Levels of Government in Canada

CANADA HAS THREE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT

The Prime Minister leads the federal government based in Ottawa. It deals with national and international matters, such as: Government of Canada website: canada.ca PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENTS A Premier leads each province and territory. The provincial and territorial governments have the power to change their laws and manage their own public lands. They are in charge of: • education • health care • road regulations Pictou County has three provincial ridings: Pictou West, Pictou Centre, and Pictou East, each represented by a Member of the Legislature (MLA). To learn about how government works and to find out who your MLA is, and how to contact them, please visit nslegisature.ca/members. MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS Mayors and wardens lead municipal governments. They are in charge of such things as: In Pictou County we have six municipal units: Municipality of Pictou County, Town of New Glasgow, Town of Pictou, Town of Stellarton, Town of Trenton, and Town of Westville. To learn more about each municipal unit, please visit pages 12-23.

Canada is a constitutional monarchy. This means the Queen or King of Canada is the head of state; and the Prime

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

• mail • taxes • money • banking • shipping • railways • pipelines • telephones • criminal law • foreign affairs • national defence • employment insurance • Aboriginal lands and rights

Minister is the head of government We are in the federal riding of Central Nova, and we are represented by a Member of Parliament. SERVICE CANADA is located at 340 E. River Rd., New Glasgow Service Canada provides Canadians with a single point of access to a wide range of government services and benefits. We are committed to improving services for Canadians by working with partners to provide access to the full range of government services and benefits that Canadians want and need through the Internet, by

• parks • parking • libraries • roadways • local police • local land use • fire protection • public transportation • community water systems telephone, in person or by mail. ACCESS NOVA SCOTIA is located at 94 Lawrence Blvd., Stellarton and provides in-person access to provincial services ranging from things like obtaining your driver’s license to information on land and property, to obtaining permits. A full list of services, including what services you can easily access online are available at: novascotia.ca/sns/access/

Government of Nova Scotia website: novascotia.ca

FIRST NATION GOVERNANCE

First Nation communities in Canada are each governed by an elected Chief and Band Council. To learn more, visit plfn.ca or see page 10.