Provinces and territories of Canada

Canada is a federation of ten provinces and three territories. The major difference between a Canadian province and a territory is that a province is a creation of the Constitution Act, while a territory is created by federal law. Thus, the federal government has more direct control over the territories, while provincial governments have many more competences and rights.

Provinces of Canada

The following table is listed in the order of precedence (i.e. when a province entered into Confederation). Population figures are from 2004.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Notes:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Immediately prior to Confederation, Ontario and Quebec were part of the Province of Canada.
• Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island were separate colonies at the time of joining Canada. Newfoundland was a Dominion within the British Commonwealth.
• Manitoba was established simultaneously with the Northwest Territories.
• Saskatchewan and Alberta were created out of land that had been part of the Northwest Territories.