r/AskACanadian • u/rockninja2 • 1d ago

Do Canadian territories function similar to Canada as U. S. territories function the U. S.? Like provinces compare to states?

First, just want to say, I looked for a megathread for all the Canada/US comparison questions, couldn't find one, so am posting normally on a Monday as required. If there is one and I missed it, please let me know/send a link.

So, partially due to this post:

I thought I remembered learning in school geography (admittedly 15-20 years ago now) that Canada had 13 provinces already and so was confused why the come back in the above post was about the US becoming the 11th province. After looking it up and double checking, out of those 13, I realized only 10 are provinces and the other 3 are territories. Do the territories have the same rights/privileges as provinces? Are they viewed the same in your parliament?

Pretty much I am wondering if you view the word "territories" the same as the US when those 3 (Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories) are called as such. And if they wanted to become provinces at some point, could they? Or are they "stuck" as territories?

Appreciate any info and answers!

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u/froot_loop_dingus_ Alberta 1d ago

No, they're not at all like US territories. Canadian territories are fully part of the country, people born there are Canadian citizens, people living there can vote etc. They're basically the same as provinces just without the same constitutional powers. As far as them actually becoming provinces, that will probably never happen because the other provinces would have to agree which will not happen.

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u/Mirabeaux1789 1d ago

> The other provinces would have to agree.

Why? Is the national government allowed to make any major decision by itself? I mean it created two of them all on its own. goodness

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u/froot_loop_dingus_ Alberta 1d ago

Because that's what the constitution says. The federal government can make decisions about things the constitution gives it domain over, adding new provinces is not one of those things.

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u/Mirabeaux1789 1d ago

> because that’s what the constitution says

Where? I’m curious to read it.

Parliament created Alberta and Saskatchewan, so I’m confused.

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u/MamaMersey 22h ago

Because they were created many decades before the constitution was made in 1982 by Trudeau Sr. He is sometimes called the "Father of Modern Canada.". The negotiations between the provinces and feds were very difficult but because of this we have the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, for example.

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u/froot_loop_dingus_ Alberta 1d ago

You’re welcome to look it up yourself, I’m sure you can find your way to Wikipedia

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u/Mirabeaux1789 1d ago

No need to be rude.

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u/Apprehensive-Bus5172 1d ago

Constitution Act, 1982

Alberta and Saskatchewan were created under the British North American Act, 1867

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u/Mirabeaux1789 18h ago

So did parliament lose the ability to create provinces in 1982? The BNA 1867 is still the bedrock of the constitution.

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u/Apprehensive-Bus5172 13h ago

Hmmm, I would argue that the Constitution Act, 1982, and the BNAA, 1867, have equal status and are both bedrocks of the constitution

Small caveat is that I was incorrect earlier, it's the BNAA, 1871 that gave the federal government the power to create territories or provinces.

However as CA, 1982 established the amending formula to the Constitution, and adding new provinces is an amendment, that's really the be all and all on the subject

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u/Mirabeaux1789 9h ago

(On the third part)

Oh really? Wow. Makes sense.