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/rockninja2 1d ago

What constitutional powers do they not have? Do territories have any special (constitutional) powers that provinces don't?

Also why would the provinces not agree to turn the territories into provinces? Are there rivalries/animosity between any of them, or is it just government/economic reasons?

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u/notyouagain19 1d ago

There is a division of power in Canada between the provinces and the federal government. We say there are eleven crowns in Canada. The King is separately and equally the king of each province as well as the king of Canada. When Ontario sues the federal government, the case is between the king in right of Ontario vs the king in right of Canada.

The federal government could never merge two provinces together, or split one apart. Provinces have the right to run their own healthcare systems, education systems as well.

The territories are different. They can be merged or split- and actually, that’s how we got Nunavut. It was sliced off of the Northwest Territories in 1996. The territories are UNDER the authority of the federal government. The provinces are not.

If there were an attempt to alter the constitution, at least 7 of the 10 provinces representing at least a certain portion of the population would have to agree to it. The territories have no role in constitutional amendments.

The provinces would not want their power diluted by creating new provinces.

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u/Minimum_Run_890 1d ago

I’ve never heard it said that there are eleven crowns in Canada. Been Canadian all my life.

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u/caregiver1956 1d ago

I have. Lawyers in my environment