Administrative Divisions of Canada: Provinces, Territories & Regions

Canada is a federation composed of 10 provinces and 3 territories, grouped into 5 geographic regions for statistical and policy purposes.

Provinces (Constitutional Jurisdiction)

Provinces derive authority from the Constitution Act, 1867; have lieutenant governors (Crown reps); manage health, education, natural resources.

1. Alberta (AB) — Capital: Edmonton
2. British Columbia (BC) — Capital: Victoria
3. Manitoba (MB) — Capital: Winnipeg
4. New Brunswick (NB) — Capital: Fredericton
5. Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) — Capital: St. John's
6. Nova Scotia (NS) — Capital: Halifax
7. Ontario (ON) — Capital: Toronto (also national capital region)
8. Prince Edward Island (PE) — Capital: Charlottetown
9. Quebec (QC) — Capital: Quebec City
10. Saskatchewan (SK) — Capital: Regina

Territories (Federal Jurisdiction)

Territories exercise delegated powers under federal statutes; have commissioners (not lieutenant governors); evolving toward province-like autonomy.

1. Northwest Territories (NT) — Capital: Yellowknife
2. Nunavut (NU) — Capital: Iqaluit (created 1999)
3. Yukon (YT) — Capital: Whitehorse

Standard Geographic Regions (Statistics Canada)

• Atlantic Canada: NB, NL, NS, PE
• Central Canada: QC, ON
• Prairie / Western Canada: MB, SK, AB (sometimes includes BC)
• Pacific Canada / West Coast: BC (sometimes grouped with West)
• Northern Canada: NT, NU, YT

Key Distinctions

This structure balances unity with regional diversity—from Atlantic fishing villages to Arctic Inuit communities to Pacific gateway cities.