Government's role is vital to each and every person. Government is the vehicle we use to decide how our resources will be allocated among the wants and needs we have as a society.

Such decisions are not easy - our needs and wants are always greater than the resources available to fulfill them. Historically people were largely self-reliant - dependent on individual effort and/or support from families and communities. As the population expanded society shifted from a primarily agricultural, rural society to an urbanized industrialized society. Government was looked to as the means to establish minimum standards for the public protection, and the enforcement of rules and regulations.

Government is funded by the taxpayer. As taxpayers we look for evidence of value for the dollars we provide. Government has the responsibility to prioritize and review the services they provide and how they provide them. We all benefit when the needs of society are addressed effectively for less money.

This Guide to Government in Canada has been prepared to primarily meet the needs of students in grade five as identified by the Government of Ontario.

People who live in our city - Waterloo, Ontario, Canada experience four levels of government. These include:

• the Government of Canada (also known as the federal government),
• the Province of Ontario (also know as the provincial government),
• the Regional Municipality of Waterloo (the upper tier of the municipal - or local government),
• and the Municipality of the City of Waterloo (that's us - the lower tier of the municipal - or local government).

Each of these four levels of government has specific responsibilities. Knowing which level of government looks after what can be a challenge - especially when some of responsibilities are shared amongst two or more of the levels. And - each of the levels has a different structure and different titles for the peoples' positions. Also people who live in Waterloo have different elected officials than people who live in Kitchener, or Cambridge, or Toronto. Choose from the links to the left to learn more about each of the levels of government.