Understanding Canada: Provinces and Territories
Canada is a federation of 10 provinces and 3 territories. The federal government handles citizenship, criminal law and overall immigration policy, while provinces run healthcare, education and many taxes. Every province and territory except Quebec and Nunavut runs a nominee program, so where you settle shapes your immigration options.
10
Provinces
3
Territories, in the far north
41.8 million
Canada’s population on July 1, 2026, per Statistics Canada
5%
The federal Goods and Services Tax (GST), charged nationwide
Population figures change each year: verify current figures on Statistics Canada before relying on them.
What are the 10 provinces and 3 territories?
The 10 provinces, roughly from east to west, are Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. The 3 territories in the far north are Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. Together they span six time zones and stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic Ocean.
Population is heavily concentrated in two provinces. According to Statistics Canada, as of July 1, 2026, Canada’s total population was about 41.8 million, with Ontario at roughly 16.3 million (close to 39 percent of the country) and Quebec at about 9.1 million. British Columbia (about 5.7 million) and Alberta (about 5.1 million) follow, and the territories each have well under 100,000 people.
- Atlantic provinces
- Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, in the east.
- Prairie provinces
- Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, in the centre.
- British Columbia
- On the Pacific coast.
- Ontario and Quebec
- The populous core, home to Toronto, Ottawa (the national capital), and Montreal.
The rule
Canada is a federation of 10 provinces and 3 territories.
Which government decides what?
Canada is a federation, which means governing power is shared between one federal government in Ottawa and the governments of each province. The Constitution sets out who does what. Some areas, like immigration, are shared: Ottawa sets the framework, but provinces influence economic selection through their own programs.
- Federal government
- Nationwide matters such as citizenship, defence, criminal law, currency, and overall immigration policy.
- Provinces
- Healthcare delivery, K-12 and post-secondary education, property and civil rights, and many local services.
- Territories
- Their powers are delegated by the federal government rather than guaranteed by the Constitution in the same way. In practice the territories increasingly run their own affairs and have their own elected legislatures.
This division of powers is the single biggest reason services, rules, fees, and benefits differ from one part of Canada to another. A rule or benefit that exists in one province may not exist, or may work differently, in the next. Health coverage, driver licensing, professional credential recognition, school curriculums, and many taxes are provincial.
Why does your province matter for immigration?
Almost every province and territory runs a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), or in the territories a nominee program, that selects immigrants for its specific labour-market needs and can nominate them for permanent residence. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the only two parts of the country without such a program are Quebec, which selects its own economic immigrants through its distinct system (such as the CSQ and the Arrima portal), and Nunavut. Yukon and the Northwest Territories do run nominee programs.
There is no special fast-track immigration route reserved for any single nationality. People from the United States, India, and everywhere else use the same general pathways: Express Entry, provincial nominee programs, family sponsorship, and work or study permits.
Since November 3, 2026, a job offer adds points to your Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score (100, 70 or 50) only if its occupation is a high-wage occupation (one whose median wage is at least 1.3 times the national median). IRCC gives points for either Canadian work experience or a high-wage job offer, but not both. From March 25, 2025 to November 2, 2026, a job offer added none.
Do healthcare, taxes and costs differ by province?
Public healthcare is administered province by province, so coverage rules and waiting periods differ. Some provinces impose a waiting period of up to about three months before provincial insurance begins, and newcomers often buy private interim coverage in the meantime. Permanent residents also have residency obligations to keep their status, generally needing to be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days within every five-year period.
Taxes are layered. The federal government levies income tax and a 5 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) nationwide, while each province sets its own income tax brackets and its own sales tax. Because rates differ and change, verify the current rate for your province on the Canada Revenue Agency and provincial government sites.
Sales tax comes in three shapes:
- Some provinces combine the federal and provincial sales tax into a single Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
- Some charge a separate Provincial Sales Tax (PST).
- Alberta has no provincial sales tax at all.
Cost of living, rent, salaries, job markets, and climate also vary widely by province and even by city within a province. There is no single national rent or salary figure that applies everywhere.
Which official languages apply where?
Canada has two official languages at the federal level: English and French. This means you can deal with the federal government in either language.
At the provincial level the picture varies. French is the official and majority language in Quebec, and New Brunswick is officially bilingual. In most other provinces English is the main language of daily life, though many communities are highly multilingual and French-speaking minorities exist across the country.
Which free tool checks your own case?
- Pathway ExplorerWhich programs to read about, from a few answers
- PNP DrawsProvincial rounds, province by province
Free, with no account. What you enter in a tool stays in your browser.
What do people ask?
How many provinces and territories does Canada have?
Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories, 13 in all. The provinces are Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The territories, in the far north, are Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Together they span six time zones. Our Choosing a Province guide compares them for newcomers who have not yet picked where to settle.
How does Canada's government work?
Canada is a federation, so power is shared between one federal government in Ottawa and the government of each province. The federal government handles citizenship, defence, criminal law, currency and overall immigration policy. Provinces handle healthcare delivery, schools, property and civil rights. Immigration is shared: Ottawa sets the framework and provinces select through their own programs. Our citizenship test guide covers how Canada’s government is organized in more depth.
How does Canada's tax system work for newcomers?
Canada's taxes come in layers. The federal government charges income tax and a 5 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) everywhere, and each province sets its own income tax brackets and sales tax. Some provinces merge the two sales taxes into one Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), others charge a separate Provincial Sales Tax (PST), and Alberta has no provincial sales tax. Our taxes for new immigrants guide explains your first tax year.
What is the difference between a province and a territory?
A province has its own powers under the Constitution, while a territory uses powers the federal government delegates to it. Provinces control areas like healthcare and education that Ottawa cannot simply override. The three northern territories increasingly run their own affairs and have elected legislatures, and each has well under 100,000 people. Our Choosing a Province guide shows how that difference affects services and programs where you plan to live.
Why does the province I choose matter for immigration?
Your province decides which nominee streams are open to you. Every province and territory runs a Provincial Nominee Program or a territorial nominee program, except Quebec and Nunavut. Quebec selects its own economic immigrants through its own system, such as the CSQ and the Arrima portal, and Nunavut runs no nominee program. Provinces also set healthcare, schools and many taxes. Our Provincial Nominee Program guide explains how provinces select immigrants.
What are Canada's official languages?
Canada has two official languages at the federal level, English and French, so you can deal with the federal government in either one. Provinces differ: French is the official and majority language in Quebec, New Brunswick is officially bilingual, and English is the main daily language in most other provinces, where French-speaking minorities also live. Our Quebec Immigration guide explains how the French-speaking province runs its own immigration system.
What are the largest provinces in Canada by population?
Ontario is by far the largest province. Statistics Canada put Canada’s population at about 41.8 million on July 1, 2026, with Ontario at roughly 16.3 million, close to 39 percent of the country. Quebec had about 9.1 million, British Columbia about 5.7 million and Alberta about 5.1 million. Each territory has well under 100,000 people. Our Cost of Living by Province guide compares what life costs in each one.
Do I get healthcare as soon as I move to a Canadian province?
Not always on day one. Public healthcare is run province by province, and some provinces make newcomers wait up to about three months before provincial coverage starts, so many buy private interim insurance to bridge the gap. Permanent residents also have a residency obligation of at least 730 days in Canada in every five-year period. Our healthcare for newcomers guide lists the waiting period and how to apply in each province.
Official sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.