Provinces and territories of Canada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Provinces and territories of Canada
Category	Federated state
Number	10 provinces 3 territories
Government	Constitutional monarchy

Canada is a very large country with ten provinces and three territories. These are like big regions or states that help manage the country. They are all part of Canada under the rules of the Canadian Constitution.

In 1867, three areas of British North America—New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Province of Canada (which became Ontario and Quebec)—joined together. This event, called the Canadian Confederation, created Canada as a new country. Over time, Canada grew and added more provinces and territories. Today, Canada is the second-largest country in the world by land area.

The main difference between a Canadian province and a territory is where they get their power. Provinces get their power directly from the Constitution Act, 1867. This means they have a lot of control over their own affairs. Territories, on the other hand, get their powers from the Parliament of Canada. The federal government gives them their authority.

The Constitution Act explains how power is shared between the federal government (for all of Canada) and the provincial governments. If you want to change how powers are divided for provinces, you need to change the Constitution. But for territories, the federal government can make changes more easily.

Provinces are seen as having their own special authority, almost like mini-countries within Canada. Each province has a lieutenant governor who represents the Canadian Crown (the King or Queen). Territories are not as independent; they have a commissioner who represents the federal government.

Canada's Provinces: A Closer Look

Canada has ten provinces, each with its own capital city and unique features. These provinces are home to most of Canada's population. They manage many important services for their residents.

Canada's Territories: The North

Canada has three territories. They are different from provinces because their governments get their powers from the federal government, not directly from the Constitution. These territories cover a huge part of northern Canada. They include all the land north of latitude 60° north and many islands.

Even though territories cover 40% of Canada's land, only a small part of the population (about 0.3%) lives there. This makes them very sparsely populated.

Population Distribution Across Canada

Canada's population from the 2016 census by province/territory

Most of Canada's population lives close to the border with the United States. The four largest provinces by land area—Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta—are also the most populated. Together, they are home to about 86% of all Canadians.

The three territories (Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon) cover more than a third of Canada's land. However, only a tiny fraction (0.3%) of Canada's population lives there. This means these northern regions are very vast and empty.

Canada's population has generally grown over time. Between 2011 and 2016, the population grew by 5.0%. Almost all provinces and territories saw an increase in people during this period. Nunavut had the fastest growth, increasing by 12.7%.

Historically, Ontario and Quebec have always been the two biggest provinces by population. They have consistently held over 60% of Canada's total population. The population in the West has grown steadily, while the population in Atlantic Canada has seen some declines.

How Canada's Map Changed Over Time

The territorial evolution of the borders and the names of Canada's provinces and territories

"O Canada we stand on guard for thee". Stained glass, Yeo Hall, Royal Military College of Canada. Featuring arms of the Canadian provinces and territories as of 1965.

Canada began with four original provinces on July 1, 1867: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. These were once British colonies that joined together. Over the next few years, more areas joined: Manitoba in 1870, British Columbia in 1871, and Prince Edward Island in 1873.

In 1870, a huge area called Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory was bought by the Canadian government from the Hudson's Bay Company. This vast land became the Province of Manitoba and the North-West Territories.

The North-West Territories was enormous, covering much of what is now northern and western Canada. In 1880, Britain gave its claims to the Arctic islands to Canada, making the North-West Territories even bigger. In 1898, the Yukon Territory was created from part of this area.

In September 1905, two new provinces were formed from the North-West Territories: Alberta and Saskatchewan. In 1912, the borders of Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba were expanded northward.

Newfoundland and Labrador was the last province to join Canada. In 1869, the people of Newfoundland decided to remain a British colony. However, after a difficult economic period and World War II, they voted to join Canada. On March 31, 1949, Newfoundland became Canada's tenth province. The province was later renamed Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001.

In 1999, a new territory called Nunavut was created from the eastern and northern parts of the Northwest Territories. This was an important step for the Inuit people who live there.

How Provincial and Territorial Governments Work

Provinces have a lot of power over important services like healthcare, education, and transportation within their borders. They collect their own taxes and also receive money, called "transfer payments," from the federal government to help pay for these services. The federal government can sometimes set rules for how this money is used, for example, to ensure everyone has access to medical care.

Each province and territory has its own law-making body, similar to a mini-parliament. Most provinces call theirs the Legislative Assembly. Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador call theirs the House of Assembly, and Quebec calls its the National Assembly. Ontario's members are called Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPPs).

The leader of the government in each province is called the Premier. The Premier is usually the head of the political party that wins the most seats in an election. In the territories of Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, the leader is also called the Premier, but their governments often work without political parties.

The King's representative in each province is the lieutenant governor. In the territories, there is a commissioner who represents the federal government.

Provincial Legislature Buildings

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  Alberta Legislature Building

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  British Columbia Parliament Buildings

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  Manitoba Legislative Building

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  New Brunswick Legislative Building

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  Newfoundland and Labrador Confederation Building

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  Nova Scotia Province House

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  Ontario Legislative Building

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  Prince Edward Island Province House

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  Quebec Parliament Building

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  Saskatchewan Legislative Building

Territorial Legislature Buildings

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  Northwest Territories Legislative Building

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  Nunavut Legislative Building

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  Yukon Legislative Building

Map of Canada's Divisions

Provincial Political Parties and Governments

Each province has its own political parties. These parties often have similar names to the national (federal) parties, but they usually work independently. For example, provincial Conservative parties are not officially linked to the federal Conservative Party of Canada.

However, some parties are more connected. Provincial New Democratic Parties are fully part of the federal New Democratic Party. This means they share members and work closely together. The Liberal Party of Canada also has strong links with its provincial counterparts in Atlantic Canada.

Some provinces have unique parties that don't have a clear federal equivalent, like the Alberta Party and Saskatchewan Party. In Quebec, the political scene is different, with parties focused on whether Quebec should remain part of Canada or become an independent country.

Currently, most provincial governments are led by a single party with a majority of seats. However, Yukon has a minority government, meaning the leading party needs support from another party to pass laws.

See also

In Spanish: Organización territorial de Canadá para niños

• List of regions of Canada
• Provincial and territorial museums of Canada