6.4.1 Other Levels of Government in Canada

Local government, also called municipal government, plays a big part in daily life. A municipality is normally run by a council. The council passes rules known as by-laws, and those by-laws apply only inside that local community. At the head of the council sits a mayor, or in some places a reeve. Beside them sit councillors, who in certain municipalities are called aldermen instead.

Municipalities look after many everyday services. Typical duties include planning for towns and regions, keeping up streets and roads, and collecting rubbish. They clear snow in winter and run firefighting services. Ambulances and other emergency services are theirs too. So are recreation facilities and public transit, plus certain health and social services provided locally. In most large urban centres the police force is a municipal one.

Federal elections are not the only ones open to you. Provinces, territories and municipalities hold their own elections, and these are also held by secret ballot. The rules, though, are not the same as the federal rules. Details such as who may vote and how you get registered can differ from one place to another. Find out the rules that apply where you live, so that you can use your right to vote at every level.