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Canada
Women in decision-making positions
27%
Members of local deliberative bodies are women (6,140 elected women)
No woman is Head of Government
31%
Parliamentarians are women
46%
Ministers are women

Government organization

Spheres of government

Canada is a federal monarchy with three spheres of government: federal, intermediate (provincial), and local.

One tier of central government; one tier of intermediate government composed of provinces and territories; and one to three tiers of local government: municipalities, upper and lower tier municipalities or upper, lower municipalities and city boroughs in Quebec.

  • Head of State: The Monarch is the Head of State. A Governor-General is appointed by the Monarch to represent her interests.
  • Head of Government: The Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor-General, with the confidence of the House of Commons.
  • Legislative body: The Parliament is a bicameral legislature, with an upper house (the Senate) and a lower house (the House of Commons). Members of the Senate are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Members of the House of Commons are directly elected by voters.
  • Executive body: The Cabinet is composed of the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, and ministers selected by the Prime Minister to be appointed by the Governor-General.

  • Legislative body: The provincial/territorial legislative assembly is a unicameral legislature whose members are directly elected by voters.
  • Executive body: The premier is the leader of the winning party (with the most seats) in the provincial/territorial legislature election.

  • Organization: Local government is organized into 1-3 tiers. The Province of Quebec is organized into three tiers of local government (upper-tier municipalities, lower-tier municipalities, and city boroughs). The provinces of Ontario and British Columbia are organized into two tiers of local government (upper-tier municipalities and lower-tier municipalities). The remaining provinces/territories are organized into one tier of single-tier municipalities.
  • Competencies: Local government is responsible for providing local services and facilities, making and enforcing by-laws, and adopting the local budget.
  • Ministerial oversight: Ministry/department of municipal affairs at the provincial/territorial level

Overview of local government

Local government composition

Deliberative body: The regional council is composed of elected members or representatives nominated from the lower tier municipalities. A chairperson presides over the council; the chairperson is also vested with executive powers.

Executive body: The chairperson is the executive at the upper-tier municipality level of government.

Deliberative body: The municipal council is typically composed of 3-20 elected members. A mayor presides over the council; the mayor is also vested with executive powers.

Executive body: The mayor is the executive at the single/lower-tier municipality level of government.

Deliberative body: The borough council is composed of 2-4 elected members, the members of the city council in the borough, and the borough mayor. The borough mayor presides over the council; the borough mayor is also vested with executive powers.

Executive body: The borough mayor is the executive at the city borough level of government.

Local government elections

Electoral system for deliberative bodies: majority/plurality (first-past-the-post or block vote) or no direct elections

  • Elections for city councils are held through either a ward system or an at-large system, depending on the location. the candidate or candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared to be elected.
  • The upper-tier municipalities may either be composed of members directly elected by voters or representatives nominated from the lower tier municipalities. 

Electoral system for executive bodies: majority/plurality (first-past-the-post) or no direct elections

  • The mayors/chief elected officials may be elected using a first-past-the-post electoral system or may be elected by and from the council.

Sources: Local Authorities Election Act of Alberta, 2000 (amended trough 2021), article 95(1); Local Government Act of British Columbia, 2015, article 146(2); The Municipal Councils and School Boards Elections Act of Manitoba, 2005 (amended through 2021), article 117(1); Municipal Elections Act of New Brunswick, 1979 (amended through 2021), article 42(8); Municipal Elections Act of Newfoundland and Labrador, 2001 (amended through 2016), article 58; Local Authorities Elections Act of the Northwest Territory, 1988 (amended through 2012), article 76; Municipal Elections Act of Nova Scotia, 1989 (amended through 2019), article 129; Consolidation of the Nunavut Elections Act, 2019; article 224.17.(2); Municipal Elections Act of Ontario, 1996 (amended through 2021), article 55(4); Municipal Government Act of Prince Edward Island, 2017 (amended through 2021), article 52; Municipal Election Regulations of Prince Edward Island, consolidated in 2018, article 83.(2); Act Respecting Elections And Referendums In Municipalities of Quebec, consolidated in 2021, article 255, The Local Government Election Act of Saskatchewan, 2015(amended through 2019), article 139(1); Municipal Act of Yukon, 2002 (amended through 2016), article 125(2)

  • Gender quotas: No
  • Additional quotas: No

  • Term length: 3 years in Yukon; 1-3 years in Northwest Territories (depending on the municipality); 4 years for other provinces and territories
  • Last local elections: varies by province/territory: 2017-2021
  • Next local elections: varies by province/territory: 2022-2025

Electoral commissions at the provincial/territorial level

National legal framework on local government

  • Federal:
    • The Constitution Acts, 1867 (amended through 2011);
  • Alberta:
    • Alberta Local Authorities Election Act, 2000 (amended through 2021);
    • Alberta Municipal Government Act, 2000 (amended through 2021);
  • British Columbia:
    • British Columbia Local Government Act, 2015 (amended through 2021);
    • British Columbia Community Charter, 2003 (amended through 2021);
    • Vancouver Charter, 1953 (amended through 2021);
  • Manitoba:
    • Manitoba Municipal Act, 1996 (amended through 2021);
    • Manitoba Municipal Councils and School Boards Elections Act, 2005 (amended through 2021);
    • City of Winnipeg Charter, 2002 (amended through 2021);
  • New Brunswick:
    • New Brunswick Local Governance Act, 2017 (amended through 2020);
    • New Brunswick Municipal Elections Act, 1979 (amended through 2021);
  • Newfoundland and Labrador:
    • Newfoundland and Labrador Municipalities Act, 1999 (amended through 2017);
    • Newfoundland and Labrador Municipal Elections Act, 2001 (amended through 2016);
    • City of Corner Brook Act, 1990 (amended through 2017);
    • City of Mount Pearl Act, 1990 (amended through 2017);
    • City of St John's Act, 1990 (amended through 2017);
  • Northwest Territories:
    • Northwest Territories Tlicho Community Government Act, 2004 (amended through 2018);
    • Northwest Territories Délîne Final Self-Government Agreement Act, 2016;
    • Northwest Territories Charter Communities Act, 2003 (amended through 2018);
    • Northwest Territories Cities, Towns, and Villages Act, 2003 (amended through 2017);
    • Northwest Territories Hamlets Act, 2003 (amended through 2019);
    • Northwest Territories Local Authorities Elections Act, 1988 (amended through 2012);
  • Nova Scotia:
    • Nova Scotia Municipal Elections Act, 1989 (amended through 2019);
    • Nova Scotia Municipal Government Act, 1998 (amended through 2021);
    • Halifax Regional Municipality Charter, 2008 (amended through 2021);
    • Region of Windsor and West Hants Municipality Act, 2018;
  • Nunavut:
    • Nunavut Cities, Towns, and Villages Act, 1988 (amended through 2021);
    • Nunavut Hamlets Act, 1988 (amended through 2021);
    • Nunavut Elections Act, 2003 (amended through 2021);
  • Ontario:
    • Ontario Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (amended through 2021);
    • Ontario Municipal Act, 2001 (amended through 2022);
    • City of Toronto Act, 2006 (amended through 2022);
    • City of Ottawa Act, 1999 (amended through 2021);
    • Town of Moonsonee Act, 2000 (amended through 2021);
    • City of Greater Sudbury Act, 1999 (amended through 2021);
    • Town of Haldimand Act, 1999 (amended through 2021);
    • Town of Norfolk, 1999 (amended through 2021);
    • City of Hamilton Act, 1999 (amended through 2021);
    • Regional city of Peel Act, 2005 (amended through 2018);
    • City of Kawartha Lakes Act, 2000 (amended through 2003);
  • Prince Edward Island:
    • Prince Edward Island Municipal Elections Regulations, 2017 (consolidated in 2018);
    • Prince Edward Island Municipal Government Act, 2017 (consolidated in 2021);
  • Quebec:
    • Act Respecting the Metropolitan Community of Montreal, 2020 (amended through 2021);
    • Act Respecting the Metropolitan Community of Quebec, 2000 (amended through 2021);
    • Act Respecting Northern Villages and the Kativik Regional Government, 1978 (amended through 2021);
    • Charter of Ville de Levis, 2000 (amended through 2021);
    • Charter of Ville de Longueuil, 2000 (amended through 2021);
    • Charter of Ville de Gatineau, 2000 (amended through 2021);
    • Charter of Ville de Montreal, National Capital of Quebec, 2000 (amended through 2021);
    • Charter of Ville de Quebec, Metropolis of Quebec, 2000 (amended through 2021);
    • Municipal Code of Quebec, 2018 (amended through 2021);
    • Quebec Cities and Towns Act, 1964 (amended through 2021);
    • Quebec Cree Villages and the Naskapi Village Act, 1979 (amended through 2020);
    • Quebec Municipal Powers Act, 2005 (amended through 2021);
    • Quebec Respecting Elections and Referendums in Municipalities Act, 1987 (amended through 2021);
    • Quebec Respecting Municipal Territorial Organization Act, 1988 (amended through 2021);
  • Saskatchewan:
    • Saskatchewan Municipalities Act, 2005 (amended through 2020);
    • Saskatchewan Northern Municipalities Act, 2010 (amended through 2021);
    • Saskatchewan Cities Act, 2002 (amended through 2021);
    • Saskatchewan Urban Municipality Act, 1984 (amended through 2005);
    • Saskatchewan Local Government Elections Act, 2015 (amended through 2019);
    • Alberta and Saskatchewan‘s Lloydminster Charter, 2012;
  • Yukon:
    • Yukon Municipal Act, 2002 (amended through 2016).

There are no constitutional provisions that establish local government in Canada.

The provincial/territorial legislative assemblies are responsible for establishing the legal framework on local government. The key pieces of legislation which regulate local government are the city charters and municipal codes of the provinces/territories.

Sources:

1. UN Women: Data on share of women in local government as of 1 January 2025.

2. UN Women: Information on Head of State and Government as of 1 December 2025.

3. Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU): Data on share of women in the single/lower chamber of parliament as of 1 January 2025.

4. UN Women: Data on share of women Cabinet ministers as of 1 January 2025.

5. Information on local government organization as of 1 January 2023.