Module 4: The Federal System

Question 1

A program by which the federal government helps to finance welfare and other provincial social services.

Answer 1

Canada Assistance Plan

Question 2

Established in 1995 when the Canada Assistance Program and the Established Programs Financing were combined into a single block of funding.

Answer 2

Canada Health and Social Transfer

Question 3

The Canadian government’s transfer payment program in support of the health systems of the provinces and territories of Canada.

Answer 3

Canada Health Transfer

Question 4

The Canadian government’s transfer payment program in support of post-secondary education, social assistance and social services, including early childhood development and early learning and childcare.

Answer 4

Canada Social Transfer

Question 5

Federal states can either privilege the federal government or the state/provincial governments. If the system privileges the federal government, it is a centralized or cooperative federalism.

Answer 5

Centralized Federalism

Question 6

Means shared jurisdiction between the federal and provincial governments.

Answer 6

Concurrent Powers

Question 7

Are funds given by the federal government to the provincial governments on the condition that they are spent in a certain way.

Answer 7

Conditional Grants

Question 8

A political organization characterized by a number of smaller states, which delegate a degree of sovereignty to a central authority for specific purposes (i.e. The European Union).

Answer 8

Confederal System

Question 9

Federal states can either privilege the federal government or the state/provincial governments. If the system privileges the state/provinces, it is a decentralized or dual federalism.

Answer 9

Decentralized Federalism

Question 10

Allows the federal government to assume jurisdiction over any “work” considered to be for the benefit of Canada as a whole (i.e. uranium exploration).

Answer 10

Declaratory Power

Question 11

The power to disallow provincial legislation, even though the subject matter of the legislation was assigned to the provinces by the BNA Act.

Answer 11

Disallowance

Question 12

Unconditional transfer payments to the provinces from the federal government, calculated according to the ability of each province to raise revenue.

Answer 12

Equalization Payments

Question 13

A federal block grant program that is essentially conditional in nature.

Answer 13

Established Programs Financing

Question 14

Is the processes of intergovernmental negotiation that are dominated by the executives of the different governments within the federal system.

Answer 14

Executive Federalism

Question 15

Is based on two main ideas: (1) the distribution of government power on a geographical basis and (2) the philosophy that unity and diversity can coexist.

Answer 15

Federalism

Question 16

A system in which legal powers are divided between a central government and regional governments in such a way that each level of government has some kind of activities on which it makes final decisions.

Answer 16

Federal System

Question 17

Is a meeting of the provincial and territorial premiers and the Prime Minister. These meetings have been held annually since 1950.

Answer 17

First Minister’s Conference

Question 18

Is the means by which a government adjusts its spending levels and tax rates to monitor and influence a nation’s economy.

Answer 18

Fiscal Policy

Question 19

Refers to taxes that are not collected by the government, but by other persons or institutions and passed along to the government (i.e. sales tax).

Answer 19

Indirect Taxation

Question 20

A retired Canadian economic program introduced by John A. Macdonald’s Conservative Party in 1876 and put into action in 1879. It called for high tariffs on imported manufactured items to protect the manufacturing industry.

Answer 20

National Policy

Question 21

Occurred when the Mohawk people of Kanesatake contested the legitimacy of the state’s decision to permit the expansion of a golf course on unceded and ceremonial Mohawk territory and the use of coercion to enforce this decision.

Answer 21

Oka Crisis

Question 22

The constitutional ability of lieutenant-governors to reserve provincial legislation for federal approval.

Answer 22

Reservation

Question 23

A clause in the Constitution that allows the federal government to legislate in any matter not specifically assigned to the provinces.

Answer 23

Residual Clause

Question 24

So-called “50-cent dollar” programs in which the federal government pays 50 percent of costs.

Answer 24

Shared-Cost Program

Question 25

A political construct that wields authority and power within set geographic boundaries that are recognized by other states.

Answer 25

Sovereign State

Question 26

Money from the federal government that the provinces can spend in any way that they wish since it is not designated for a specific policy field.

Answer 26

Unconditional Grants

Question 27

A form of government in which the power and authority to govern is centralized in one government.

Answer 27

Unitary System

Question 28

A concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the social and economic well-being of its citizens.

Answer 28

Welfare State