Canada has three levels of government: federal, provincial, and municipal. Each level is responsible for different services and decisions that affect our daily lives.
Federal
The federal government, led by the Prime Minister, makes decisions for the whole country. It is responsible for things like national defence, immigration, citizenship, criminal law, and relationships with other countries. It also manages programs such as Employment Insurance.
Provincial
The provincial government, led by the Premier, is responsible for services within the province. In Ontario, the provincial government oversees health care, education, social services, labour laws, and provincial highways. These services affect people every day.
Municipal
The municipal government is the level of government closest to residents. Led by a mayor and council, it manages local services such as libraries, parks, recreation centres, local roads, public transit, water services, and community planning. These are services that people use every day.
Because municipal governments make decisions about local services, municipal elections are very important. In Markham, the municipal election will take place from October 16 to October 26, 2026. Residents will vote for a Mayor, Regional Councillors, Ward Councillors, and School Board Trustees.
Before voting, take some time to learn about the candidates and their ideas. Think about what they want to do and how their plans could affect the community. You should also make sure you are on the voters' list and know which ward you live in.
Get Information You Can Trust
As election day gets closer, it is important to get information from sources you can trust. Social media can be a good way to learn about issues and candidates, but not everything online is true. Checking information before sharing it can help stop false information from spreading.
When you read or watch election information, ask yourself where it came from and whether it is current. Official government websites, local news sources, and information from candidates are good places to learn more. If something seems surprising, check more than one source before you believe it or share it.
The City of Markham's Vote with Confidence page helps residents find accurate election information and learn how to spot false or misleading information online. It includes tips for checking facts and making informed choices.
Municipal elections may seem smaller than federal or provincial elections, but they have a big impact on our daily lives. By learning about the issues, finding information you can trust, and voting, residents can help shape Markham's future. For official election information, visit the City of Markham's Elections website.
Join us for some library programming to learn more. Register here:
To find out more information about our government see here:
- City of Markham
- Markham Elections
- Vote with Confidence
- Government of Canada
- Elections Canada
- Elections Ontario
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