Lesson 2 of 2 · 5 min read
Canada's court system is led by the Supreme Court of Canada, policing is shared among the RCMP and provincial and municipal forces, and legal aid is available for those who cannot pay for a lawyer.
Canada's justice system relies on a network of courts and police services, and help is available for those who need it.
The Supreme Court of Canada is the country's highest court. The Federal Court of Canada deals with matters concerning the federal government. In most provinces, there is an appeal court and a trial court — sometimes called the Court of King's Bench or the Supreme Court. The trial court's name follows the reigning monarch: in provinces such as Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan, it was renamed from the Court of Queen's Bench to the Court of King's Bench following the accession of King Charles III in September 2022. Provinces also have provincial courts for lesser offences, along with family courts, traffic courts, and small claims courts that handle civil cases involving small sums of money.
The police keep people safe and enforce the law. You can ask the police for help in many situations — after an accident, if something was stolen from you, if you are a victim of assault, if you witness a crime, or if someone you know has gone missing.
Canada has different types of police. Ontario and Quebec have their own provincial police forces, and every province has municipal police departments. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) enforces federal laws across the country and also serves as the provincial police in every province and territory except Ontario and Quebec, as well as in some municipalities. If you have concerns about a police officer's service or conduct, almost all police forces in Canada have a process for raising that concern.
Lawyers can help with legal problems and represent people in court. If a person cannot pay for a lawyer, most communities offer legal aid services free of charge or at a low cost.
Key facts
The Supreme Court of Canada is the country's highest court.
The Federal Court of Canada deals with matters concerning the federal government.
Most provinces have an appeal court and a trial court, sometimes called the Court of King's Bench or the Supreme Court, as well as provincial courts, family courts, traffic courts, and small claims courts.
The trial courts formerly known as the Court of Queen's Bench in provinces such as Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan are now called the Court of King's Bench, following the accession of King Charles III in September 2022.
canada.ca — Court of King's Bench of AlbertaThe Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) enforce federal laws throughout Canada and serve as the provincial police in every province and territory except Ontario and Quebec.
Ontario and Quebec have their own provincial police forces, and all provinces have municipal police departments.
If a person cannot pay for a lawyer, most communities offer legal aid services free of charge or at a low cost.
Answer all 3 to mark this lesson done.
1. Which court is described as Canada's highest court?
2. According to the guide, which two provinces have their own provincial police forces, with the RCMP handling provincial policing everywhere else?
3. What help is available to someone who cannot afford a lawyer in Canada?
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