Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Development of the federal system including topics such as the division of powers, parties, federal-provincial relations and theories of federalism.

COURSE DETAILS:

COURSE DETAILS:

This class explores a wide cross-section of issues in Canadian politics, through the lens of Canada’s federalism system.  While federalism fosters a positive kind of pluralism, where distinctive sub-national communities can govern many of their own affairs autonomously, those territorial and jurisdictional boundaries between communities become an on-going source of political tension.  It is important to appreciate why we have a federal division of powers, how the division between the federal and provincial governments has evolved over the years, what practical consequences flow from a federal division of governmental structures, how public policy is managed in a federal system, the roles of political parties, and why Canadian federalism has continued to be a focus of discontent.  The failure of the national Parliament to provide effective regional representation will be also considered.

Federalism is a starting point in this class to examine a variety of issues in Canadian politics. The class will look at intergovernmental clashes over policy control that are played out through jurisdictional disputes and the power of the federal purse. The evolving multilevel nature of Canada’s federal system will be discussed, looking at the northern territories, Indigenous self-government, and municipalities. The class will also cover the strong challenges from Quebec nationalists & alienated Westerners seeking to reshape or leave the Canadian federation.

COURSE ORGANIZATION:

The class will have a weekly two-hour lecture and a one-hour tutorial (tutorials begin in Week 2). 

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

REQUIRED READING NOTES: