Who handles taxes & public finance?
Taxes & Public Finance
Taxation in Canada occurs at all three levels. Federal collects income tax and GST, provinces add provincial income tax and PST/HST, and municipalities collect property taxes. In Alberta, Quebec, and several provinces, the education portion of property tax is set by the province but collected by municipalities.
⚠️ Shared Jurisdiction: This area involves multiple levels of government. The information below shows the primary responsibility at each level, but overlap is common. When in doubt, start with the level most directly related to your issue.
Federal
Parliament of Canada
- ● Income tax (Canada Revenue Agency)
- ● GST/HST
- ● Carbon pricing and climate action incentive
- ● Corporate tax (federal portion)
💡 Example: Contact the CRA about income tax, GST/HST, or carbon tax rebates, or your MP about tax policy.
Provincial
Provincial Legislature
- ● Provincial income tax
- ● Provincial sales tax (PST) — where applicable
- ● Education property tax rate (set by province, collected by municipalities in most provinces)
- ● Provincial tax credits and benefits
💡 Example: Contact your provincial finance ministry or revenue agency about provincial taxes, or your MPP/MLA/MNA about tax policy.
Municipal
City / Town Hall
- ● Property taxes (municipal rates)
- ● Local improvement charges
- ● Tax collection and assessment appeals
- ● Municipal user fees
💡 Example: Contact your municipal tax office about property taxes, or your councillor about local tax rates.
Quick Reference — Who to Contact
🏛️ Federal
Your Member of Parliament (MP)
🏢 Provincial
Your MPP, MLA, or MNA
🏘️ Municipal
Your City Councillor
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