Government in Ottawa is comprised of three levels: Federal, Provincial, and Municipal.

Federal

Ottawa is the Nation’s Capital and the seat of the federal parliament. As such, the city enjoys a very balanced and healthy economy; with government employment offsetting the peaks and valleys of Ottawa’s other leading sector, advanced technology. The federal government is Ottawa’s largest employer, employing more than 100,000 people.

Because the Federal government is a major purchaser of technology and other products, many industry associations are headquartered in Ottawa in order to have direct access to key government agencies, ministers, departments, and boards. Additionally, Parliament brings with it a wealth of related activity, such as the presence of national organizations, procurement, policy & communications consultants, lobbyists and trade & business organizations. This distinguishing feature of Ottawa is especially important for companies who are planning on expanding into Canada and who must interface with federal government agencies on a regular basis regarding regulatory and other government approvals.

Ottawa is also home to the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal, as well as a multitude of quasi-judicial tribunals and commissions. Although city and provincial police forces oversee day-to-day law enforcement in the city, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is headquartered in Ottawa, and provides security for VIPs and federal installations.

Provincial

The Ontario government is made up of ministries, agencies, and other offices. Each one takes care of different programs and services. Ontario has a competitive business climate. Whether your business is large or small, urban or rural, the Ontario government provides services and resources to help you expand your business in Ontario and abroad. The Ontario government provides a wide range of services and information on money, taxes, business registration, and property.

The Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (OMEDT) promotes economic growth for the province of Ontario. OMEDT provides research and development funding partnerships, advisory services, and programs to promote investment and exports to world markets.

Municipal

Ottawa’s local government encompasses a number of services for the local resident, local business, visitors and access to your local city council. City Council is the decision-making body responsible for turning community needs into municipal services, from human services, such as social services and housing, to hard services, like roads and waste management.

To assist it in its deliberations, City Council appoints Standing Committees to study issues and to make recommendations to Council. These Standing Committees are comprised solely of elected representatives. It is at the Standing Committee level that citizens have input into the decision-making process.

The City of Ottawa also has 16 advisory committees, composed entirely of volunteers, who provide advice to City Council on specifically mandated areas of interest. These committees contribute to the development of policies, programs and initiatives that enhance Ottawa's quality of life.