Q. Why is it important for a community to make its own laws and provide its own services?

This seems to be a popular question for Grade 5 Geography.  Below is an answer that I have provided in the past and I hope will help you:

It appears that your question is dealing with the importance of Municipal Governments to communities.  Every community has unique as well as common characteristics.  What may work with one community may not meet the needs of another.  Municipal governments are given the responsibility of determining what is best to enable their communities to function.  You can find information on Municipal Government responsibilities in the Grade 5 Social Studies guide in the Virtual Learning Commons

Other great resources are the Encyclopedias and databases available on the Virtual Resources A-Z page  In particular, check out "The Canadian Encyclopedia" (search for Municipal Government)

Some of these resources will require passwords which are only available to students and staff in the Upper Canada District School Board.  You can obtain these from your school's Learning Commons Informationist.

One more website that may be of assistance is the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing  which outlines the role of the Municipality.

I have also included a publication from 2003 from the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition entitled "Communities and Local Government: Working Together"

Determining how these roles and responsibilities are important is part of your inquiry process and I unfortunately cannot give you the answer, only resources to check out.  See the links provided.

Feel free to contact me if this is not what you were looking for or it I can provide further assistance.

Mrs. Cornelisse

Learning Commons Informationist