Municipal governments

Cities support day-to-day life

Municipal governments run cities and towns. They have many responsibilities that affect the everyday lives of Canada’s people. These include fire fighting, policing, snow removal, public transportation, community services, collecting property taxes and much more.

Elected councils

Municipal governments meet in groups of elected representatives. The groups are called councils and the representatives are called councilors. Each council is led by an elected mayor.

Local or municipal elections are held every two to four years, depending on the province or territory where the municipality is located. Each province and territory decides on the rules for who can vote in municipal elections.

To find out more about how Canadian cities and towns function, look for the website of the city or town you plan to settle in.

Learn more about:

• Federal government
• Provincial and territorial governments