“...provincial premiers and parliaments in Canada have far less power than do American state governments and legislatures.”
That’s the difference between a province and a State.
The background of the Canadian Confederation was that of then recently concluded American War Between the States. Canada and the British Crown opted for a stronger Federal government than the United States had. The Southern states had their own militias and, with the exception of Texas, had no need for the Federal military to fight Indians or protect an international border. They had their own tax sources, and the Federal government was mainly reliant on tariffs. The Southern secession was partially caused by a tariff dispute.
Recognizing the recent troubles to the south, the Fathers of Confederation decided to keep military, taxation, and other matters centralized.