Page "Canada Health Act" Paragraph 4

Canada is a federal country in which power is distributed between the national government and the ten provinces.

The division of power was spelled out in the British North America Act 1867 ( renamed the Constitution Act, 1867 in 1982 ).

Section 92 ( 7 ) lists as one of the " exclusive powers of provincial legislatures " " The Establishment, Maintenance, and Management of Hospitals, Asylums, Charities, and Eleemosynary Institutions in and for the Province, other than Marine Hospitals.

" Although this language does not specifically give authority over ' health care ,' subsequent court cases and interpretations have generally established the provinces have paramount authority in this area.