Canada has three levels of government (federal, provincial and municipal) and is a constitutional monarchy. This means the Queen or King of England is our head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government.
The Governor General personally represents the monarch in Canada. A Lieutenant Governor personally presents the monarch in each province and territory.
Federal Government
The Prime Minister leads the federal government based in Ottawa. It deals with national and international matters such as mail, taxes, money, banking, shipping, railways, pipelines, telephones, criminal law, foreign affairs, national defense, employment insurance and indigenous lands and rights.
A Member of Parliament (MP) is elected to represent a federal riding in the House of Commons. The Annapolis Valley is within the federal ridings of Kings-Hants and West Nova.
Click here to find your MP.
Service Canada provides Canadians with a single point of access to a wide range of government services and benefits through the internet, by telephone or by mail and have a office located at 495 Main Street in Kentville.
Provincial Government
A Premier leads each province and territory. The provincial and territorial governments have the authority to change their laws and manger their own public lands. Some of the responsibilities include health care, education, and road regulations.
A Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) is elected to represent a provincial electoral district to the legislative assembly. The Annapolis Valley includes 6 out of 55 provincial electoral districts: Digby-Annapolis, Annapolis, Hants West, Kings North, Kings South and Kings West.
Click here to find your MLA.
Access Nova Scotia provides in-person access to provincial services ranging from things such as obtaining your driver's license and permits, to information on land and property. There are three offices located within the Annapolis Valley, 5 Shylah Drive, (Kentville), 61 Main Street, (Middleton) and 80 Water Street, (Windsor).
Municipal Government
Mayors, Wardens, and elected councillors lead municipal governments. They are responsible for such things as: parks, parking, libraries, roadways, local land use, fire protection, public transportation, and community water systems.
In the Annapolis Valley, we have eight municipal units:
- Municipality of the County of Annapolis
- Municipality of the County of Kings
- West Hants Regional Municipality
- Town of Annapolis Royal
- Town of Berwick
- Town of Kentville
- Town of Middleton
- Town of Wolfville
First Nation Governance
First Nation communities in Canada are each governed by an elected Chief and Band Council. In the Annapolis Valley we have three First Nation communities:
Villages
The Annapolis Valley is home to eight villages, each governed by a Village Commission who is elected by the residents who reside in the village.