Are the Canadian provinces the same as the US states? Does each province have its own government program? If so, do each province have a different political style?
The general idea is the same. Like the USA, Canada is a united country. Canada came on July 1, 1867, when Britain allowed four of its colonies in the northeastern part of North America to assemble. Later, however, six more provinces were added. Manitoba joined Canada in 1870, British Columbia in 1871, and Prince Edward Island in 1873.
In 1870, Britain annexed Canada to a vast area called Rupertsland, in what is now Prairie County and the northern part of Canada. The provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta were created there in 1905, after the Prairie area of Rupertsland was somehow established.
Interestingly, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, one of the oldest North American settlements in the Caucasus, did not join Canada until 1949. Newfoundland and Labrador were separate Dominions in the British Empire. However, this remote region, with its severe winters and very little arable land, continued to be poor. He ran out of money during the Great Depression and returned to control Britain. Newfoundland and Labrador never regained the status of Dominion, and while military use during World War II was somewhat helpful, it remained extremely poor. Citizens of this province even considered joining the United States, but opted to join Canada in the polls.
Most Newfoundland and Labrador residents live on the island of Newfoundland. Newfoundland, developed separately, is often said to be culturally distant from English-speaking Canada. Labrador, on the continent, has indigenous peoples with a certain size of empire. Significantly, the Province of Quebec does not accept its current border with Labrador. They believe that Newfoundland owned only a small piece of land along the Labrador coast.
In stark contrast with the United States, large parts of Canada remain places to this day. They are in northern Canada, a region with a subarctic and arctic climate, which can support many people. The Nunavut site was created in the eastern part of the Northwest Territories in 1999. The westernmost point is the Yukon, best known.
Special Cultural Equipment
The Canadian constitution is very different from the United States in many ways. It creates a situation, especially after a few Supreme Court decisions in Canada, requiring bilingual services, English and French in some states. How this is done and why it is complicated: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_policies_of_Canada%27s_provinces_and_territories.
Traditionally Quebec has provided almost a balance between most French language and minor English, but that time is no longer available. Quebec still offers some English language services, but is very limited in order to improve the French language. For example, all public symbols must be in French, and some languages appear in lower case. Also, most immigrants living in Quebec have to send their children to French-speaking schools.
New Brunswick has been bilingual since joining the Confederation, but, historically, relations between the two language groups have often been strained and distrusted. Manitoba was forced by the courts to speak two languages, although the French-speaking population was much smaller than the English-speaking population. Historically this created a lot of bad feeling, but the situation has now stabilized for years, French language rights began to be established, and they became commonplace and accepted by all other people.
Other provinces also grant certain French language rights, depending on their status. Ontario has a large French-speaking population in the east and northeast of it. The province is committed to providing bilingual services in those regions. Providing hospitals in particular is the responsibility of the provincial government of Canada (The private sector is very small.) So, after much controversy, the Ontario Government agreed that the Ottawa Area would have its own, French-speaking hospital, Bienvenue à Hôpital Montfort
. Higher education in Canada is also a part of the state, not a private one. Therefore, the Government of Ontario is funding a major English-speaking university in Ottawa, Carleton University, but also a major French-speaking, University of Ottawa.
Indigenous language rights are also important in Canada. Nunavut was specially designed to be the home of the Inuit people, and to protect their language and heritage. Two other states grant legal language rights to some of their indigenous peoples.
However, indigenous rights in some parts of Canada go beyond language. Canadian law has gradually moved forward in recognizing that relations between indigenous peoples and a coalition government must be governed by the state, in which the indigenous countries have their own sovereignty, whether local or provincial. This has created tensions between provincial governments and indigenous peoples.
Provinces and territories in Canada have legislatures, just as the United States does. However, all provincial legislatures are “minor”, versions of the Canadian chamber of parliament, as well as minor versions of the British Parliament. Canada is a constitutional monarchy, and each provincial legislature has a representative of the Canadian Crown. (Similar to Britain, but the king is directly in charge of Canada, because Canada is a separate state.) In the provincial legislature, the Honorable Representative is called the Lieutenant-Governor: Lieutenant governor (Canada) – Wikipedia
. (“Lieu” is referred to as “Left”.) Lieutenant-Governor, as Governor-General of Canada, has a military role only. However, to be honest, the areas of provincial government are, in a sense, the hands. (Thus, for example, in Manitoba, provincially controlled territories are sometimes referred to as territories under the Queen’s Majesty, Right in Manitoba.) Also, some provincial actions are performed in the name of the Monarchy.
The real power head of the Canadian provincial legislature is the Prime Minister, and, of course, the minority prime minister. The Prime Minister is not elected separately. He is usually the leader of the party with the most seats in the Legislature. Bills of a provincial government are considered by the legislature, and passed into law, in a British manner.
When one compares the Canadian Constitution with the United States, it seems that the provinces have less power than the provinces. In particular, states are not able to pass criminal laws (Although they sometimes make similar criminal laws, which would offend the federal government, if they believe the province has entered into a unity government.) Provinces have only a small role, affecting non-bank financial institutions.
The province does, however, do things similar to those done by state legislatures. They look after non-municipal roads. They play a key role in managing agriculture. They use the courts of law. They levy provincial income taxes. All but Alberta have a form of sales tax, but in all provinces, it is combined with corporate tax, to form a single tax rate for that province. (However, in some provinces the sales receipt includes state and provincial taxes separately.) Provinces administer elementary and high schools.
The provinces control the police, although some, instead of using the provincial police force, have a contract with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for local police services. Provinces regulate the sale of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. Provinces are responsible for obtaining multiple professional and trade licenses. They control car sales, regulate car insurance requirements, and issue license plates and driver’s licenses.
This website of the Government of Canada provides a devolution of power between the federal government of Canada and the provincial governments: The constitutional distribution of the power of the rule of law.
Things Provinces Do What Provinces Do Not
Although the Canadian provinces appear to be less powerful than the U.S. states, they are, in fact, non-existent. As I said above, in Canada, the provision of health services and higher education is often the responsibility of the government, and the provincial governments are the most responsible. These two types of services are a major part of each province’s budget. The provision, as well as the cost to the provincial government, is a source of debate sometimes in each province.
In Canada, provinces are responsible for municipal affairs, and municipalities are considered “provincial creatures”. Provinces are holding back their municipalities. However, like in the USA, provinces will delegate certain functions to local governments, and provide some financial support.
A Different Political Style
The fact that Canada has only ten provinces rather than 50 provinces makes a big difference. The vast majority of Canada’s 37,000,000 people live in the two central provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Ontario has a population of over 14,000,000. Considering that the population of Canada is more than one tenth of the USA, this is similar to the fact that, perhaps 120,000,000 Americans lived in the same region. Ontario can sometimes have a positive impact on its relations with the Government of Canada and other provinces. Quebec has a special responsibility to protect the French language culture and the Quebecois culture in North American English.
The four Atlantic states are generally, economically weak in Canada. With the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador, there are very few locals. One could say that they represent “old” Canada, which is not an urban one, and is less influenced by emigration. As the majority of the people in the region would like their provinces to be fully independent, those provinces should focus on receiving support from a coalition government, as well as the more prosperous provinces.
The four Western provinces are sometimes referred to as “Western Alienation”. In a fair way, they feel that the Canadian Government has “scrutinized” its laws and policies in the central vote-rich states. This leads to what are sometimes seen as “Dukes Up”, fighting, anger and disloyalty in the coalition government and in the “East”. (Which means Central Canada and excludes non-invasive Atlantic states.) In fact, the values, and attitudes towards the role of government, as well as modern Canada, social and political justice in Canada, are no different from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, since. those in pro
However,
Alberta is a “one-off”. Other Canadians sometimes refer to it as being
“Too American”. Ranching, and then the petroleum industry, American
settlers, and a relatively high commitment to religion, particularly
Protestantism, make Alberta political behaviour somewhat different. At
present, it is probably fair to say that many Albertans are furious with
the current federal government. They are very angry, especially,
because they feel that the federal government has been obstructing the
growth of the Alberta oil industry. However, there is a more general,
strong dislike by many Albertans of whatever they see as the culture,
particularly of Ontario, and what some see as the excessive role of
Quebec.
British
Columbia is different. They share Western Alienation, but do not have
the furious view of the federal government that characterizes much of
Alberta’s politics. One could say that provincial governments there feel
a special sense of stewardship for British Columbia’s beautiful natural
environment. Also, respect for the indigenous peoples of British
Columbia is relatively high. British Columbia is very distant from
Central Canada, and a lot of the political focus is on developing strong
relationships with the countries of the Pacific Rim.
So,
on the day to day level of services provided to the general public,
Canadian provinces kind of “feel like” states. But, look beyond that,
and there are some very large differences.