Public services in Canada

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Public services in Canada are delivered by various levels of government, determined through responsibility enacted in the Constitution. Financing for those services is provided through tax receipts, sales revenues, user fees, and other government revenue sources.

Contents

Services

ServiceJurisdictionFundingNotes
Health careProvincialprovincial income tax, federal health transfer
EducationProvincialProvincial income tax, municipal and regional property taxesAn education tax is part of each household's property tax bill; funding of libraries is a municipal responsibility, except in remote and First Nations communities, for which the provincial or federal government supplies funding
Postal serviceFederalFederal income tax, sales revenue
Law enforcementFederal, provincial and municipalIncludes police and border services
Fire and emergency servicesMunicipalMunicipal property taxesIncludes ambulatory and paramedic service
Water and wastewaterMunicipal and/or regionalProperty taxes, user feesRemote communities and First Nations receive service from provincial government; in some areas, regional governments assume portions of capital costs
Waste managementMunicipal and/or regionalProperty taxes, user feesIncludes solid waste, recycling, composting, and hazardous waste treatment; fees may be charged by some municipal governments for exceeding certain limits of refuse disposal

Health care

Primary health care in Canada is a provincial responsibility. Funding for service delivery is provided via provincial income tax receipts and federal health transfers.

Education

Primary, secondary and tertiary education in Canada is the responsibility of each provincial government. The federal government department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada delivers education service to First Nations.