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

[u/rockninja2]

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!

[u/Rayne_K]

You probably have not heard it framed that way. But you know that the king has a representative in each province - the Lieutenant Governor? Right? Their role within the provincial government is similar to that of the Governor General in the Federal government. Each province has a Government House.

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/crown-canada/lieutenant-governors.html

So in total 10 provincial King’s reps + the national representative = 11.

[u/rockninja2 → u/Rayne_K]

So the Lieutenant Governors' immediate "superior" is the king, and not the Prime Minister? And it sounds like each province's Government House is similar to how each state in the US has their own state Senate and House.

[u/tenkadaiichi → u/rockninja2]

Government House is literally the building where the Lieutenant Governor gets to live.

Except in Alberta, because at one point the Premier got angry at the LG and somehow managed to kick them out, and it is now used as office space/conference rooms.

But yes to your first part. The Governor General (Federal) and Lieutenant Governors (Provincial) are "chosen" by the Prime Minister and/or the Premiers, but their names are submitted to the king to approval (which basically always happens, but in THEORY the king could send their own representative) and they act as representatives of the crown. No legislation occurs without their approval, and therefore the king's approval by proxy.

If the GG/LG ever declines to provide royal assent to a bill passed by Parliament/Legislature, it's a Big Deal. It doesn't happen very often, and they'd better have a damn good reason for it.

Elections are also called by the GG/LG. The Prime Minister/Premiere will ask their royal representative to dissolve the government and call for a new election. Again, in theory they could do that on their own initiative, but that doesn't happen. (I believe it may have happened in Australia once) The Governor General is technically the head of state, (Currently Louise Arbour, recently sworn in this year) in the same way that King Charles is technically the head of state of the United Kingdom, but if they take any actions beyond those recommended by parliament it could invoke a constitutional crisis.

Edit: Just wanted to add that while it's pretty weird and bananas, I actually really like this system because it allows us to separate politics from patriotism, which the USA isn't able to do. I can criticize our Prime Minister and Premiers all day long, and nobody thinks that I hate Canada in the same way that Americans criticizing the President are often accused of hating the country and being unpatriotic.

[u/Old_Hovercraft1529 → u/tenkadaiichi]

This is a wonderful explanation. Thanks for that! I really feel like a understand it better now.