Learn more about each level of government

Are you familiar with the different levels of government? Do you know how they work together to deliver programs and services? The City of Vaughan operates within a two-tier municipal structure, which means there are two levels of government providing services to the Vaughan community – the local municipality (the City) and the regional municipality (York Region).

The City also works closely with its government counterparts at the provincial and federal levels. Each level of government has different roles and responsibilities to conduct daily business, deliver citizen services or respond to a declared emergency.

Learn more about each of them below.

The City of Vaughan is responsible for – 

• animal services
• building permits
• burial permits
• development applications and zoning plans
• fire and rescue services
• municipal by-law enforcement
• organic, garbage and recycling collection
• park and amenity closures
• parking enforcement
• property standards enforcement
• property tax billing
• recreation and fitness services
• road maintenance on local roads, such as Ansley Grove Road, Chancellor Drive, Kipling Avenue, Woodbridge Avenue and more
• water and wastewater distribution
• winter maintenance on local roads, such as Creditstone Road, Edgeley Boulevard, Martin Grove Road, Vaughan Mills Road and more

York Region is responsible for –

• ambulance and paramedic services
• court services
• family and children services
• housing and shelter support services
• long-term care
• police services
• public health
• public housing
• regional transportation services (York Region Transit, vivaNext)
• road maintenance on regional roads, such as Bathurst Street, Dufferin Street, Keele Street, Major Mackenzie Drive, Weston Road and more
• social assistance services
• solid waste management
• water and wastewater treatment
• winter maintenance for regional roads, such as Highway 7, Islington Avenue, Jane Street, Langstaff Road, Rutherford Road and more

Watch this video for a better understanding of York Region’s structure.

For a full list of regional roads, view this map. 

The Province of Ontario is responsible for –

• colleges and universities
• education
• environmental services
• healthcare
• hospitals
• LCBO
• provincial highways
• schools

Vaughan Council and the City of Vaughan have no jurisdiction over what gets taught to children in their schools. In Ontario, education is governed principally by the Education Act,  which sets the responsibilities of the Minister of Education and the duties of school boards, school board supervisory officers, principals, teachers, parents and students. Ontario's school boards operate and administer the province's publicly-funded schools. If you have questions, comments or concerns about school curriculums, contact your child’s school directly, your schoolboard trustee or your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP). Here are helpful links to identify who your trustee or MPP is:

• York Catholic District School Board Trustees
• York Region District School Board Trustees
• French-language public and catholic school boards directory
• Elections Ontario – find your MPP

Many other provincial responsibilities are shared with the federal government. For a complete list of Ontario government ministries, visit the Government of Ontario's website.

The Government of Canada is responsible for –

• access to credit
• business support
• Canada Child Benefit
• Canada Student Loans
• citizenship
• employee support
• Employment Insurance (EI)
• foreign travel and support for Canadians abroad
• income supports
• income tax
• national defence

The federal government is made up of a variety of departments, agencies and Crown Corporations, each with their individual roles and responsibilities. For a complete listing, visit the Government of Canada's website.

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