What was the main difference between a province and a territory in Canada?

• A. Provinces have larger populations than territories.
• B. Provinces can conduct foreign policy, territories cannot.
• C. A province owns its land, while a territory does not and has less power to govern.
• D. Territories have greater legislative autonomy than provinces.

Answer: (C)

In Canada, the difference comes from how each is governed at the constitutional level. Provinces get their powers from the Constitution, so they have broad, defined authority over areas like land, natural resources, education, and health. Territories don’t have that same constitutional footing; their powers come from federal legislation and can be changed by the federal government, so they generally have less autonomy to govern.

That’s why the statement about a province owning its land while a territory does not—and having less power to govern—best captures the distinction. The other ideas don’t fit: foreign policy is a federal responsibility, not a provincial one; population size isn’t the defining factor; and territories do not have greater legislative autonomy than provinces.