Legislation Basics
Canada is made up of 14 legal jurisdictions (10 provinces, 3 territories and 1 federal government) that are responsible for governing the affairs within their boundaries. The Canadian Constitution divides areas of activity between the federal and provincial government. The federal government has jurisdiction over certain matters such as the military, criminal law, aboriginal people, railways, shipping, prisons, marriage and divorce, trade, currency, banks, bankruptcy, taxes, immigration and intellectual property. Provincial governments oversee provincial taxations, property and civil rights, municipalities, hospitals and education.
For information on citing legislation, see our Research Guide