Municipal governments are responsible for areas such as libraries, parks, community water systems, local police, roadways, and parking. They receive authority for these areas from provincial governments. Across the country, there are also band councils, which govern First Nations communities.

The term “state agency” designates “any department, agency, or other instrumentality of the government of any state or of any political subdivision of any state.”

Quasi-Governmental Organizations (QGOs) are organizations that have both public and private characteristics, not fitting neatly into either category. One type of QGO is an organization incorporated as a private, not-for-profit organization, but run by a board of directors that is composed of governmental officials or directors appointed by a unit of traditional government.

An educational institution is a place where people of different ages receive an education. Examples of some institutions are preschools, primary schools, secondary schools, and higher education. They provide a variety of learning environments and learning spaces.

Special districts are independent, special-purpose governmental units that exist separately from local governments, such as county, municipal, and township governments, with substantial administrative and fiscal independence.

A pension plan is a retirement plan that requires an employer to make contributions into a pool of funds set aside for a worker’s future benefit. The pool of funds is invested on the employee’s behalf and the earnings on the investments generate income for the worker upon retirement.

Public housing was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single family houses to high-rise apartments for elderly families.

Affordable housing is housing that is deemed affordable to those with a median household income or below as rated by the national government or a local government by a recognized housing affordability index.