Which level of government is responsible for health care?
- Municipal governments
- The Senate
- The federal government alone
- The provinces and territories
Answer: The provinces and territories
Health is a provincial responsibility, along with education, natural resources and highways. The Canada Health Act sets common elements and a basic standard of coverage.
Learn more: Provincial and territorial government
- Every province has its own elected Legislative Assembly; a provincial legislature is the Lieutenant Governor plus the elected Assembly.
- The Premier’s role in a province is similar to the Prime Minister’s federally.
- The Lieutenant Governor represents the Sovereign in each of the ten provinces, a role similar to the Governor General’s.
- Lieutenant Governors are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, normally for five years.
- In each of the three territories, a Commissioner represents the federal government and plays a ceremonial role.
- Provincial and territorial members are called MLAs (Legislative Assembly), MNAs (National Assembly, in Quebec), MPPs (Provincial Parliament) or MHAs (House of Assembly), depending on the province or territory.