Canadian Politics: Critical Approaches

Cover......Page 1
Table of Contents......Page 9
Preface......Page 23
About the Authors......Page 27
Part 1: Introduction......Page 29
  The Political System......Page 31
  Approaches To The Study Of Politics......Page 37
   Institutional Approaches......Page 38
   State-Based Approaches......Page 39
   Political Sociology Approaches......Page 40
   The Rational Choice Approach......Page 42
  Conclusion......Page 43
  Notes......Page 44
  Further Reading......Page 45
 Chapter 2: Institutional Foundations and the Evolution of the State......Page 47
  Early Institutional Developments......Page 48
  The Road To Confederation......Page 52
  The British Parliamentary System Compared With The American Congressional System......Page 54
  Canadian And American Federalism......Page 57
  The Road To Canadian Sovereignty......Page 60
  Principles Of The Canadian Constitution......Page 63
  Notes......Page 65
  Further Reading......Page 66
Part 2: The Societal Context Cleavages and Identities......Page 67
  Theoretical Considerations......Page 69
   Physiographic Regions......Page 71
   Transportation and Communications Systems......Page 72
   Population Distribution......Page 75
  Economy......Page 76
   The Atlantic Region......Page 77
   Ontario......Page 78
   The Prairie Region......Page 79
   The North......Page 80
   Ownership of Natural Resources......Page 81
   Transportation......Page 82
   Banking......Page 83
   Other Regional Economic Conflicts......Page 84
  Regional Economic Disparities......Page 86
  Regional Identities......Page 89
  Discussion Questions......Page 92
  Notes......Page 93
  Further Reading......Page 94
  Aboriginal Demographic Profile Today......Page 95
  Historical Evolution......Page 97
  Setting The Stage For Change......Page 102
   Early Land Claims......Page 103
   The Constitution Act, 1982 and the Meech Lake Accord......Page 104
   Land Issues in 1990......Page 106
  Aboriginal Issues In The ChrÉtien Era, 1993-2003......Page 107
   Aboriginal Self-Government......Page 108
   Ipperwash, Caledonia, and Aboriginal Injustice......Page 109
   Nunavut and the Nisga’a Treaty......Page 110
   Political Activity......Page 111
   “On-Reserve” and “Off-Reserve”Aboriginal Peoples......Page 112
   The Harper Government......Page 113
  Conclusion......Page 115
  Discussion Questions......Page 116
  Notes......Page 117
  Further Reading......Page 119
 Chapter 5: French Canada and the Quebec Question......Page 121
  The French–English Demographic Profile Today......Page 122
  Different Conceptions Of French Canada......Page 123
   Pre-Confederation Developments......Page 124
   Ethnic/Linguistic Conflicts, 1867–1960......Page 126
   Pre-1960 Quebec Nationalism......Page 128
  The Quiet Revolution: Quebec In The 1960s......Page 129
  Quebec And French Canada Since 1970......Page 132
   The 1970s......Page 133
   The 1980s......Page 134
   The 1990s......Page 135
   Party Support in Quebec......Page 137
   Developments in Other Provinces and Territories......Page 138
  Contemporary Issues......Page 139
  Conclusion......Page 142
  Notes......Page 143
  Further Reading......Page 145
  A Profile Of Ethnocultural Minorities Today......Page 147
  History Of Canadian Immigration......Page 149
  Racial Discrimination......Page 152
  Overcoming Discrimination: Multiculturalism, Equity, And Inclusiveness......Page 154
  Current Ethnocultural Issues......Page 157
  Discussion Questions......Page 161
  Notes......Page 162
  Further Reading......Page 164
  Theoretical Considerations......Page 165
  Evolution Of Women’s Rights To 1970......Page 166
   Representation in Politics and Government......Page 171
   Employment Issues......Page 173
   Constitutional, Legal, and Aboriginal Women’s Issues......Page 175
   Reproduction, Sexuality, Health, and Violence Issues......Page 176
   The Feminization of Poverty and Child Care......Page 177
   Women’s Centres and Women’s Groups......Page 178
  Contemporary Issues......Page 179
  Gay, Lesbian, And Transgender Issues And Identities......Page 181
  Conclusion......Page 183
  Notes......Page 184
  Further Reading......Page 186
  Theoretical Considerations......Page 187
  A Profile Of Class Divisions In Canada Today......Page 189
   Identifying the Corporate Elite......Page 191
   Demands of the Corporate Elite and Results......Page 192
  The Middle Class......Page 194
  The Working Class......Page 196
  The Poor......Page 200
   The Rise......Page 202
   The Decline......Page 204
  Conclusion......Page 206
  Notes......Page 207
  Further Reading......Page 209
  Theoretical Considerations......Page 211
  Urban/Rural Location......Page 212
   Separate Schools......Page 217
   Other Religious Issues......Page 219
   Current Religious Issues......Page 221
  Age......Page 223
   Population Projections......Page 224
   Future Issues......Page 226
  Discussion Questions......Page 228
  Notes......Page 229
  Further Reading......Page 230
 Chapter 10: Canada’s External Environment: The United States and the World......Page 231
   International Organizations......Page 232
   Transnational Corporations and Globalization......Page 234
   International Terrorism......Page 235
   Canadian Defence Policy......Page 236
   Canadian Foreign Policy......Page 238
  U.S. Economic Influences On Canada......Page 239
   Foreign Investment......Page 240
   Trade......Page 244
  The Canada–U.S. Free Trade Agreement......Page 245
  North American Free Trade Agreement......Page 247
  Other Trade Issues......Page 248
   The Environment......Page 249
   Trade Unions......Page 250
   The Canadian Economy in an Age of Globalization......Page 251
   Television......Page 252
   Magazines......Page 253
   Film and Video......Page 254
   Newspapers, Radio, and Sound Recordings......Page 255
  U.S. Influences On Other Aspects Of Canadian Life......Page 256
  Discussion Questions......Page 257
  Notes......Page 258
  Further Reading......Page 260
Part 3: Linking People to Government......Page 261
 Chapter 11: The Canadian Political Culture......Page 263
  Theoretical Considerations......Page 264
  Democracy......Page 265
   Political Equality......Page 266
   Political Freedom......Page 267
  Distinguishing Between Canadian And American Values......Page 269
   Balance Between Individualism and Collectivism......Page 270
   Particularism, Diversity, and Tolerance......Page 272
   Deference to Authority......Page 273
   Egalitarianism......Page 274
   Caution, Diffidence, Dependence, Idealism, and Nonviolence......Page 275
  Is Canada’s Political Culture Changing?......Page 276
  “Limited Identities”: Subcultures In Canada......Page 277
   Ethnic Subcultures......Page 278
   Class Subcultures......Page 279
  Discussion Questions......Page 280
  Notes......Page 281
  Further Reading......Page 282
  Theoretical Considerations......Page 285
   The School......Page 286
   Peers......Page 287
   Other Agents of Political Socialization......Page 288
  The Mass Media......Page 289
   Media Ownership and Control in Canada......Page 290
   The Changing Media World......Page 295
   The Internet......Page 296
   The Media and the Public......Page 297
   The Media and the Politicians......Page 299
   Measuring Public Opinion......Page 301
   Impact of Polls on the Authorities......Page 303
  Discussion Questions......Page 306
  Notes......Page 307
  Further Reading......Page 309
  Theoretical Considerations......Page 311
   Distribution of Seats among  Provinces......Page 312
   Drawing Constituency Boundaries......Page 313
   Election Officials......Page 315
   The Voters’ List......Page 316
   Election Day......Page 317
   The Franchise......Page 318
   Controversies during the 2011 and 2015 Elections......Page 319
   Discrepancies between Seats and Votes: National Level......Page 320
   Discrepancies between Seats and Votes: By Province......Page 321
   Remedies......Page 324
   Pre-1974......Page 326
   Federal Election Finance Law after 2003......Page 327
   Third-Party Advertising and the Royal Commission on Electoral Reform and Party Financing......Page 329
  Conclusion......Page 330
  Notes......Page 331
  Further Reading......Page 333
  Theoretical Considerations......Page 335
   The First Party System, 1867–1921......Page 337
   The Second Party System, 1921–1957......Page 338
   The Third Party System, 1957–1993......Page 340
   The Fourth Party System, 1993–2015......Page 341
  Interpretations Of The Canadian Party System......Page 343
   The Broker System......Page 344
   Ideological or Class-Based Parties......Page 345
  Party Ideology......Page 346
   Party Membership......Page 350
   Party Leadership......Page 351
   Party Policymaking......Page 354
   General Structures and Operations......Page 355
  Discussion Questions......Page 359
  Notes......Page 360
  Further Reading......Page 363
   Party Headquarters and Pre-Writ Preparations......Page 365
   The Election Platform......Page 367
   Media Coverage......Page 368
   National Media Advertising......Page 369
   Political Marketing......Page 371
   The Leaders’ Debates......Page 372
   The 2015 Election Campaign......Page 373
   Nomination......Page 374
   The Local Campaign......Page 376
   Sociodemographic Bases of Party Support......Page 377
   Party Identification......Page 380
   The Issues, the Economy, and the Government’s Performance......Page 381
   Strategic Voting......Page 382
   Electoral Participation......Page 384
   Non-electoral Participation......Page 386
  Notes......Page 388
  Further Reading......Page 391
 Chapter 16: Advocacy Groups, Social Movements, and Lobbying......Page 393
  The Array Of Canadian Advocacy Groups......Page 394
   Business Groups......Page 396
   Nonbusiness Groups......Page 397
   Other Categorizations of Advocacy Groups......Page 398
  Social Movements......Page 399
  Targets And Methods Of Advocacy Group Activity......Page 401
   The Bureaucracy......Page 402
   Parliament......Page 405
   Other Targets......Page 406
  Group Resources And Determinants Of Success......Page 408
  Lobbying In Canada......Page 409
   Legalizing Lobbying: The Registration System......Page 410
   Lobbying under the Chrétien, Martin,and Harper Governments......Page 411
  Discussion Questions......Page 414
  Notes......Page 415
  Further Reading......Page 417
Part 4: The Consitutional Context......Page 419
 Chapter 17: The Canadian Constitution and Constitutional Change......Page 421
   The Constitution Act, 1867......Page 422
   British Statutes and Orders in Council......Page 423
   Constitution Act, 1982......Page 424
   Judicial Decisions......Page 425
   Constitutional Conventions......Page 426
   A Domestic Constitutional Amending Formula......Page 427
   A Constitutional Charter of Rights......Page 429
  Mega-Constitutional Change, 1960–2000......Page 430
   The Constitution Act, 1982......Page 431
   The Meech Lake Accord......Page 434
   The Charlottetown Accord......Page 436
   The 1992 Referendum......Page 437
   Post-Charlottetown Constitutional Developments......Page 440
   Post-1982 Formal Constitutional Amendments......Page 443
   Instruments of Constitutional Change otherthan Formal Amendments......Page 444
  Conclusion......Page 445
  Notes......Page 446
  Further Reading......Page 448
 Chapter 18: The Federal System......Page 449
  The Confederation Settlement......Page 451
   Division of Powers......Page 454
   Federal–Provincial Finance......Page 458
   Federal Controls......Page 463
   Canadian Federalism, 1867–1945......Page 464
   Canadian Federalism, 1945–2000......Page 465
   Canadian Federalism in the 21st Century......Page 469
  Discussion Questions......Page 476
  Notes......Page 477
  Further Reading......Page 480
 Chapter 19: The Charter of Rights and Freedoms......Page 481
  Defining And Protecting Rights And Freedoms......Page 482
  En Route To The Charter......Page 483
  The Charter Of Rights And Freedoms......Page 485
   Fundamental Freedoms......Page 486
   Democratic Rights......Page 489
   Legal Rights......Page 490
   Equality Rights......Page 493
   Minority-Language Education Rights......Page 497
   Other Provisions......Page 498
  Application Of The Charter......Page 499
   The Notwithstanding Clause......Page 500
  Implications Of Constitutionalizing The Charter Of Rights......Page 501
   Criticism from Right and Left......Page 503
  Conclusion......Page 505
  Notes......Page 506
  Further Reading......Page 511
Part 5: Governing......Page 513
  The Changing Role Of The State......Page 515
   Initiation......Page 519
   Policy Formulation......Page 521
   Implementation......Page 522
  Policy Communities Revisited......Page 523
   Symbolic Response......Page 525
   Tax Expenditures......Page 526
   Public Expenditures......Page 527
   Taxation......Page 528
   State of Emergency......Page 529
  The Environment As A Case Study......Page 530
  Notes......Page 532
  Further Reading......Page 533
  The Crown......Page 535
   Powers of the Crown......Page 537
   Advantages and Disadvantages of the Monarchy......Page 541
   Powers of the Prime Minister and Cabinet......Page 543
   The Prime Minister......Page 545
  Prime Ministerial Tenure And Style......Page 550
   Composition of the Cabinet......Page 551
   Operation of the Cabinet......Page 555
   Central Agencies......Page 561
  Notes......Page 565
  Further Reading......Page 570
  Functions And Powers Of The Bureaucracy......Page 571
   Number, Structure, and Size......Page 574
   Responsibility and Accountability at the Top of the Department......Page 575
   The Rest of the Department......Page 577
   Relations with Other Departments and Central Agencies......Page 578
   The Merit Principle and a Representative Bureaucracy......Page 579
   Departmental Interaction with Provinces and the Public......Page 582
  Crown Corporations......Page 584
  Administrative Agencies......Page 586
   House of Commons......Page 589
   The Judiciary......Page 590
   Watchdog Agencies......Page 591
   Bureaucratic Accountability......Page 592
  Conclusion......Page 593
  Notes......Page 594
  Further Reading......Page 596
 Chapter 23: Parliament......Page 597
  Functions And Powers Of The House Of Commons......Page 598
  Composition Of The House Of Commons......Page 599
   The Typical Session......Page 601
   The Typical Week......Page 602
  Party Discipline......Page 604
  Stages And Kinds Of Legislation......Page 607
   The Speaker......Page 611
   Voting......Page 613
  The Committee System......Page 614
  Members’ Services And Ethics......Page 617
  Roles Of Members Of Parliament......Page 618
  The Government–Opposition Balance......Page 620
  Minority Government......Page 621
  Purposes And Powers Of The Senate......Page 624
  Composition Of The Senate......Page 625
  Operation Of The Senate......Page 627
  Senate Reform......Page 631
   The Harper Proposals......Page 633
  Discussion Questions......Page 634
  Notes......Page 635
  Further Reading......Page 638
  The Function Of Adjudication......Page 639
   Access to and Costs of Justice......Page 641
  Categories Of Laws......Page 642
  Structure Of The Courts......Page 644
   Provincial and Territorial Courts of Appeal......Page 645
  The Supreme Court Of Canada......Page 646
  The Appointment Of Judges......Page 652
  Retirement, Removal, And Independence Of Judges......Page 657
  Conclusion......Page 658
  Notes......Page 659
  Further Reading......Page 662
Appendix A: Constitution Act, 1867 (excerpts)......Page 663
Appendix B Constitution Act, 1982, Schedule B......Page 671
Glossary......Page 685
Index......Page 711