What does the federal government do?

The federal government of Canada addresses national issues and policies through programs and regulations (or laws), including:

  • Defense and policing (army, air forces, navy, RCMP, Canadian Security Intelligence Service or CSIS)
  • Economic policy (income taxation, banking, currency, debt, etc.)
  • Social security (Canada pension, employment insurance, child tax benefits, etc.)
  • Trade (interprovincial and international, trade agreements, tariffs, etc.)
  • Foreign affairs (foreign policy, international agreements, embassies, etc.)
  • Veteran affairs
  • Indigenous affairs
  • Immigration
  • National parks
  • Postal services
  • Telecommunications (telephone, television, satellite, internet, etc.)
  • Federal judiciary (including the Supreme Court of Canada)