In Canada there are three levels of democratically-elected government: municipal, provincial, and federal.
Municipal
Municipalities, such as the City of Saint John, provide police and fire services, maintain streets and roadways, provide public transportation, and maintain recreation such as parks and beaches. City Council consists of 10 elected councillors and the mayor.
Provincial
The Province of New Brunswick provides services such as health care, driver’s licenses, education, and labour laws. The head of the provincial government is the premier and members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) represent this area.
Federal
The Federal Government of Canada oversees Social Insurance Numbers, income tax, passport services, and immigration services. Canada is a federation, which means powers are shared between federal and provincial governments. The federal government is located in the House of Commons in Ottawa, led by the prime minister, and large areas are represented by a member of parliament (MP).