Levels of Government

Canada has three levels of govenment:

  • Federal
  • Provincial or Territorial
  • Municipal (city)

Federal Government

The Prime Minister heads the federal government based in Ottawa. It deals with national and international matters, such as:

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

Local Federal Information

The Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding is a federal electoral district in the province of British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 2004. Despite the large area covered, about three quarters of the population in this district live in the city of Kamloops.

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

Local Provincial Information

The Kamloops-North Thompson and Kamloops-South Thompson ridings are two provincial electoral districts for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada.

Municipal (City) Governments

Mayors lead municipal governments.

Municipal governments run cities, towns or districts (municipalities). They are in charge of things, such as:

  • parks
  • parking
  • libraries
  • roadways
  • local police
  • local land use
  • fire protection
  • public transportation
  • community water systems

Local Municipal Information

Kamloops is a city in south-central British Columbia, Canada, at the confluence of the two branches of the Thompson River near Kamloops Lake. With a population of 90,280, it is the largest community in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the location of the regional district’s offices.

First Nations Governance

Across the country, band councils govern First Nations communities. Band councils are similar to municipal governments. Band members elect the band council, which makes decisions that affect their local community.