“A general government and legislature for general purposes with local governments and legislatures for local purposes.” Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first Prime Minister some helpful links: Direct Democracy in Switzerland. http://www.swissworld.org/dvd_rom/eng/direct_democracy_2005/index.html Canadian and American Governments http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/idb/forsey/can_am_gov_01-e.asp Canadian Provinces and Municipalities: Municipal governments — cities, towns, villages, counties, districts, metropolitan regions — are set up by the provincial legislatures, and have such powers as the legislatures see fit to give them. Mayors, reeves and councillors are elected on a basis that the provincial legislature prescribes. They provide us with such services as water supply, sewage and garbage disposal, roads, sidewalks, street lighting, building codes, parks, playgrounds, libraries and so forth. Schools are generally looked after by school boards or commissions elected under provincial education Acts.