Province governments were the hardest part of federalism to explain. Here is what they do

Provinces run provincial roads, hospitals above the local level, agriculture extension and a police force that is still being set up. They legislate on a list of concurrent powers shared with the centre. [1]

Their budgets are a fraction of the federal one, and much of that is transfers passed on to municipalities.

The case for and against

Supporters say provinces are the layer that can plan a hospital network or a highway. Critics say they are a second set of ministers and offices doing what the centre and the municipalities already do.