lesson 6: federalism and intergovernmental relations Flashcards
What is federalism?
system of government in which power is divided between a national (federal) government and regional (provincial in Canada) governments
Municipalities and territories do not have …
constitutional powers
What are three ways to think about federalism?
As an institutional structure
As a characteristic of society (balancing unity and diversity
As multiple identities
What are some characteristics of a federal system?
constitution that divides powers between different levels of government
A supreme court to act as an umpire for disputes
Mechanisms for intergovernmental relations horizontally (between provinces) and vertically (between the federal and provincial governments)
Fiscal arrangements for dividing revenue between levels of government
What are the federal powers in Canada?
trade and commerce
national defence;
Indigenous peoples
criminal law and penitentiaries;
What are the provincial powers in Canada?
public lands;
hospitals and health care;
municipal institutions;
What is an example of interdependence between federal and provincial governments in Canada?
The legalization of cannabis demonstrates interdependence
fed government legalized cannabis, but each province has specific regulations
What are the main revenue sources in Canada for both federal and provincial governments?
income taxes (personal and corporate)
general sales and consumption taxes,
and payroll taxes.
Describe vertical fiscal imbalances in Canada
refer to the gap in financial capabilities between the federal and provincial governments
How can vertical fiscal imbalances be addressed?
transferring cash
Transferring or reallocating taxes:
Shifting entire tax fields:
Shifting spending responsibilities
what is transferring cash
The federal government provides intergovernmental grants to provinces.
describe Transferring or reallocating taxes:
The federal government reduces its tax rates, allowing provinces to raise theirs
Shifting entire tax fields
The federal government stops taxing a specific activity, and the provinces take over
Shifting spending responsibilities
Services are uploaded from provincial to national governments
Describe horizontal fiscal imbalances in Canada.
Horizontal fiscal imbalances occur between provinces due to regional economic disparities.
how can horizontal fiscal imbalances be problematic
if some provinces cannot fulfill their constitutional responsibilities.
____ equity is important for national utility
fiscal
What are the three main types of intergovernmental transfers in Canada?
Payments to Individuals and Institutions
Shared-cost programs
Unconditional grants
ex of Payments to Individuals and Institutions:
Canada Child Benefit
Shared-cost programs
Canada Health and Social Transfers,
which are conditional grants to encourage provincial spending in areas deemed important by the federal governm
Unconditional grants
Equalization Program,
which provides funding to less wealthy provinces to ensure comparable public services across the country
What is treaty federalism?
the nation-to-nation approach historically used to manage relations between Indigenous and settler societies in Canada
What is local government in Canada?
Local government in Canada encompasses municipalities and special-purpose bodies
democratically elected, provide essential services, and have some capacity for economic decision-making.
What is the most important component of local government
municipal corporation
What is a municipal corporation?
It is a legal entity acting on behalf of and responsible to the residents of a specific area.
It provides services to residents.
What are the three types of Canadian municipalities?
single tier
upper tier
lower tier
single tier
A single level of municipal government with exclusive authority over a defined territory (e.g., Toronto)
upper tier
County or regional level municipal governments that only exist in certain provinces and oversee two or more lower-tier municipalities
durham region
lower tier
Local municipalities within a tiered system
Richmond Hill
What are unincorporated areas in Canada?
not under the jurisdiction of a municipality and often consist of Crown land
receive government services through alternative arrangements with the province
residents in incorporated areas resist incorporation to avoid….
higher taxes
What are special-purpose bodies in local government?
autonomous local governments that perform a single or limited number of functions.
separate purpose bodies in local gov are controlled by …
separate governing body that is either elected or appointed
