Who’s in Charge Here?

Federal vs. Provincial Powers and the Growing Ottawa Creep

Watching the recent Liberal leadership debates, I couldn’t help but notice a familiar theme: one candidate was all-in on keeping Justin Trudeau’s social activist agenda rolling, while the other three were more focused on economic issues—like surviving U.S. protectionism and keeping Canada’s financial future intact.

That got me thinking: over the past decade, the federal government has been tiptoeing (or, in some cases, stomping) into provincial territory. More and more, Canadians seem to expect Ottawa to solve every problem under the sun, whether it’s their job or not. So, let’s take a look at how Canadian federalism was supposed to work, how it’s evolved, and why everyone blames the prime minister for everything from gas prices to hospital wait times.

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The Rules of the Game: What the Constitution Says

The Constitution Act, 1867 (formerly the British North America Act) and the Constitution Act, 1982, lay out who’s responsible for what. In theory, it’s pretty straightforward:

Ottawa’s Turf (Section 91)

The federal government gets the big, national issues:

• Trade and commerce

• National defence (a.k.a. making sure we don’t get invaded)

• Criminal law (but provinces handle enforcement)

• Banking and currency (yes, they control the loonie)

• Immigration (shared with provinces)

• Indigenous affairs and lands reserved for Indigenous peoples

• Interprovincial and international transportation & communications

• Citizenship and naturalisation

• Anything that isn’t explicitly provincial (a.k.a. the Peace, Order, and Good Government clause—POGG for short). This is a broad residual power that allows the federal government to legislate on matters of a national concern or not explicitly listed elsewhere (e.g., national emergencies, matters of national dimension.)

The Provinces’ Playground (Section 92)

Provinces are in charge of things that hit closer to home:

• Health care (hospitals, doctors, and those long wait times)

• Education (from kindergarten to university)

• Property and civil rights

• Natural resources within their borders

• Policing and courts

• Municipal governments

• Local infrastructure and transit

• Direct taxation (like sales tax and income tax in some provinces)

There’s also Section 92A, which was added in 1982 to confirm that provinces control their own non-renewable natural resources—though that hasn’t stopped a few battles over pipelines and carbon pricing.

Shared Responsibilities (a.k.a. Recipe for Arguments)

Some areas are a mix of federal and provincial powers, leading to frequent political squabbles:

• Agriculture and immigration (Section 95 allows both levels to legislate, but federal law wins in a fight.)

• Taxation & social programs (Provinces control many programs, but Ottawa’s funding means it often calls the shots—cue the drama over health care transfers.)

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The Expanding Reach of Ottawa: Who’s Grabbing What?

Over the past decade, many have noticed the federal government horning in on areas considered provincial turf. A few key flashpoints:

1. Climate Change & Carbon Pricing

The federal carbon tax sparked a major fight, with some provinces arguing that Ottawa was trampling all over their resource management and taxation rights. The Supreme Court ultimately sided with the feds based on the principle POGG gives the feds extraordinary powers in an emergency, but the debate rages on.

2. Health Care Funding & Strings Attached

Provinces want more money for health care—no strings attached. Ottawa wants to make sure its money is spent the “right” way. Every few years, this turns into a showdown, with premiers demanding bigger transfers and the federal government offering deals that come with conditions.

3. National Programs Creeping into Provincial Space

• Childcare: The feds rolled out a national childcare program, but since daycare is provincial, they had to negotiate with each province.

• Dental Care: The new federal dental plan is another case of Ottawa dipping into health policy—again, a provincial responsibility.

• Pharmacare: Another new federal plan in the health sector.

4. Public Feuds Between Leaders

The past decade has seen plenty of political bickering between premiers and the PM. Whether it’s over pipelines, COVID-19 responses, or equalisation payments, intergovernmental conflict has been front and centre.

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Why Do People Always Blame the PM?

Even when an issue is clearly provincial (like health care or education), people often expect the prime minister to step in and “fix it.” Why? A mix of history, media influence, and political messaging:

1. The Blame Game

• Federalism in Canada is so intertwined that it’s hard to tell who’s responsible for what.

• Voters see Ottawa funding major programs, so they assume it controls them.

• The prime minister is the most visible political figure, making him the easiest target.

2. The Money Talks Effect

• Ottawa uses its spending power to influence provincial policy (health care, social programs, etc.).

• If the feds fund it, people assume they run it.

3. The Media’s Role

• National leaders get most of the coverage, so people associate big issues with the prime minister—even when the provinces are the ones actually calling the shots.

4. Federal-Provincial Meetings: A Spectacle

• When premiers and the prime minister meet to negotiate funding or policy, it often turns into a public showdown.

• This reinforces the idea that Ottawa is the ultimate decision-maker (even when it’s not).

5. Political Campaigns That Overpromise

• National parties campaign on issues like health care and education—even though those are provincial responsibilities.

• This leads voters to expect federal intervention on everything.

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Final Thoughts: Where Does This Leave Us?

Canadian federalism was designed to balance national unity with provincial independence, but over time, Ottawa has taken a more active role in areas it wasn’t originally meant to control. Whether this is a good or bad thing depends on who you ask.

Some see it as necessary to ensure national standards on key issues like health care and climate policy. Others argue it undermines provincial autonomy and leads to inefficiency. Either way, the debate isn’t going away anytime soon—especially as the expectation grows that Ottawa should step in whenever there’s a crisis.

So, the next time you hear someone complaining about health care wait times, school funding, or potholes, ask yourself: Is this really the federal government’s fault, or have we just gotten used to blaming Ottawa for everything?