A government is both the political decision-making entity established by and having authority within a society (State, country or community) and the group of individuals that hold the governing executive offices in it. In more common terms, it breaks down into three branches : legislative, executive, and judiciary.

The legislative branch acts through the enactment of laws. In Canada, the legislative authority is vested in Parliament, consisting of the Crown, the House of Commons and Senate, at the Federal level, and in the Crown and the provincial legislatures, at the provincial level. 

The executive acts through regulations as authorized under the Laws and is vested with the responsibility to implement the Laws, which is does through the administration of public programs organized in departments and delivered by public servants. Departments are managed by a Deputy Minister, assisted by Assistant Deputy Ministers leading each departmental division. 

The judiciary acts through rulings of the courts on cases brought before them for adjudication.

Canada is a federal State with two legislative, executive and judicial jurisdictions. There are, therefore, 11 governments established under the Constitution of Canada; the Government of Canada and the 10 provincial governments. 

The Provinces have the authority to establish municipal governments, such as the City of Toronto or the York Regional Municipality. Municipalities are led by a Mayor and a Municipal Council composed of members elected by the local community.

The Government of Canada is led by a Prime Minister and Provincial governments by a Premier, who both are flanked by a number of ministers each having responsibility for an area of government, such as the Minister of Colleges and Universities of Ontario. The reunion of the Prime minister or Premier and their ministers is called Cabinet.