POLS 2910 Flashcards
Declaratory Power
The Power in Section 92 (10) (c) of the Constitution Act, 1867, under which Ottawa can declare any local work or undertaking to be for the general advantage of Canada and thereby place it under federal jurisdiction. Declaratory power can only be used to convert projects under provincial authority to federal authority. A nuclear plant would normally be under provincial authority, so you can use declaratory power to make that federal. But interprovincial pipelines are normally under federal authority already, so declaratory power cannot be used (and is redundant).
The Quebec Act 1774
The British Law passed in 1774 that provided for a system of government for the colony of Quebec (Canada) and that provided certain privileges to the French-speaking Roman Catholic majority. . The Quebec Act was intended to appease and gain the loyalty of French Canadians. First and foremost, the Act granted the freedom of worship in the colony. As such, French Canadians could freely practice their religion: Roman Catholicism. This was quite a contrast with the manner the British government had traditionally handled similar situations
Reform Liberalism
An ideology based on the belief in the rationality of the individual and on maximizing individual freedom, liberty, and self-fulfillment. Before 1900 liberalism usually advocated a larger role for the state and therefore was paced on the centre-left of the spectrum. The argument is that action is needed to ensure that the environment, economy, and social elements of society will function not only in the short term, but long term as well. If action is not taken on all of these pressing issues then it can cause a direct threat to our freedoms. This emerging new liberalism is centred on an ideal of ‘timeless freedom’ which seeks to preserve the freedom of future generations through proactive action today. This would extend both positive and negative rights and responsibilities to future generations.
Pluralism
An approach to the study of politics that focuses on the interaction of groups in the political system which operate on a reasonably equitable basis. Pluralists stress civil rights, such as freedom of expression and organization, and an electoral system with at least two parties. On the other hand, since the participants in this process constitute only a tiny fraction of the populace, the public acts mainly as bystanders. Pluralist would pick and choose in order to make demands – unbiased process – they look at more money and power.
First National Policy
A broad nation-building policy of John A. Macdonald unveiled in 1879 that included tariff protection for central Canadian manufacturing, massive immigration, and the construction of a national transportation system. 1) National tariffs policy to help promote goods, domestic producers and manufactures can sell their goods to Canada – Farmers needed to buy these goods, worried about protecting their agricultural product – domestically produced goods, regional distribution of economic activity – the farmers of the west saw themselves of being discriminated at the same time does not protect agricultural goods—allowed cheap agriculture to be sold. 2) Canadian Pacific Railway western farmers had to use it to sell their goods – Freight rates were high to send it to central Canada – however rates were lower in central Canada to send to the west all on the interest of central Canada. 3) Canadian Banks all of the main banks was located only in central Canada – wanted to control the finance and debit and credit in central Canada – disallowed any banks to open in western Canada – farmers saw that these banks had a lack of understanding of the knowledge of farming.
National Energy Program (NEP)
A 1980 initiative associated with PET and destined to skim off more petroleum tax revenue for Ottawa, keep the price of petroleum below world levels, encourage conservation, and the Canadianize the industry, which met with great opposition with Western Canada. The NEP’s supporters said the federal government was merely trying to protect Canadian consumers from high and volatile global oil prices. They also said Ottawa wanted to secure national oil supplies at a time of great global economic and political uncertainty. However, the program sparked an outcry in the West, The 1980 National Energy Program (NEP) was a sweeping attempt by the federal government to gain greater control over the Canadian petroleum industry, secure Canadian oil supplies, and redistribute Alberta’s oil wealth to the rest of the country. Introduced by the Liberal regime of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, the now defunct program angered many Albertans and led to decades of resentment throughout the West against the federal Liberal Party. The NEP had three main objectives: reduce Canada’s dependence on foreign oil, by encouraging greater self-sufficiency in domestic supplies; redistribute oil wealth via taxes and resource royalties. The NEP did reduce Canadian dependence on foreign oil, and foreign ownership of the oil industry. However, its chief legacy was one of distrust of the federal government in the western provinces. It created fierce resentment against Ottawa among western Canadians, fed feelings of western alienation and fueled the political movements
Asymmetrical Federalism
An approach to federal-provincial relations in which Ottawa is open to treating provinces differently from each other. 1968 P.E.T opposed asymmetrical federalism. The Mulroney government came into power in the year of 1984 – the Mulroney government were willing to make an accommodation of Quebec. Highly centralized Quebec to Mulroney who wanted to provide asymmetrical reform – able to do it to the nationalist of Quebec. They belong in Canada – not right they have not signed to the constitutional arrangement – they did so because Mulroney was offering a change within Quebec. Asymmetrical federalism has been much discussed as a formula for stability in Canada, meeting the aspirations of French-speaking Quebec for control over its cultural and social life without removing it from the national federation, where it coexists with nine largely English-speaking provinces. The most prominent example of asymmetric federalism in Canada is the constitutional requirement that three Supreme Court justices must come from Quebec. The nine other provinces are each entitled to fair representation in the Supreme Court, but their entitlement is based on convention rather than enshrined in the constitution. Asymmetrical federalism is significant because it showcases how Quebec was treated more special, which showcased that the concept is unfair and not equal amongst provinces and territories within Canada.
Amending Formula
The amending formula is the set of conditions required to make changes to the Constitution. In the Constitution Act of 1982 it states that a constitutional change can be made only if seven out of ten provinces representing at least 50 percent of the population of Canada agree with the proposed change. If a province votes against the proposed change it can opt out, but if it later decides to join the majority and accept the constitutional amendment, it cannot change its mind again. Amendments that deal with some but not all of the provinces (for example, changing the boundary between two provinces) may be made by the Senate, the House of Commons, and the relevant provinces. A constitutional amendment can proceed without Senate approval if the House of Commons approves the amendment and then does so again at least 180 days later.
Political Executive
The power of the executive branch of government is to administer public policies and enforce laws. The executive branch includes: the Monarch, who is represented in Canada by the Governor General, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The members of the executive branch are the decision makers of Parliament; they implement the laws.. Prime Minister, have both the responsibility and the power to govern the country. Cabinet Ministers are selected by the Prime Minister. They are collectively responsible for government policy and must maintain the confidence of the House of Commons or resign. Generally, Cabinet Ministers are Members of the House of Commons. However, there is normally at least one Senator who is a Cabinet Minister and who serves as the Leader of the Government in the Upper House. The Prime Minister matches each Cabinet Minister to a portfolio — such as Foreign Affairs or Health — which usually corresponds to a government department or agency. Cabinet Ministers ensure that their departments obey the law and plan and implement government policy.
Constitutional Convention
Unwritten rules of constitutional behaviour that are considered to be binding by and upon those who operate the constitution, but that are not enforceable by the courts. For instance, none of Canada’s constitutional documents defines the method of selecting the first ministers (the prime minister and the premiers) or the cabinets. This is governed by convention. Conventions are in the political realm and are not enforced by the courts, though courts have given opinions on the existence and application of conventions. It is up to voters to enforce conventions at the ballot box. These conventions ensure that the government is accountable to the legislature and, by extension, the electorate. According to the confidence convention, when a majority of the members of a legislature no longer have confidence in the government (and express their lack of confidence in a vote in the legislature), the first minister must resign or ask for an election to be called.
NAFTA
The agreement signed by Canada the United States and Mexico that came into effect in the year of 1989 and that gradually eliminated tariffs between the two countries and otherwise prohibited governments from interfering in the private marketplace. . Brian Mulroney was stepping out and was interested with the idea – tariffs put in – obstacles were placed – what we need to do is create a free trade regime between the US – allied themselves with business interests – business council – a group of corporate executives they allied themselves and convinced Brian that thus was a good thing – the leader at that time – went to Canadian business owners – convince them to join the free trade regime. They convinced the party and in 1994 they added on Mexico to the agreement now known as NAFTA. They have to treat the American company known as national treatment treat any company that does business in your country treat it like your own – under these trade agreements you’re not allowed to do so. NAFTA extends a new agreement for controlling and not controlling trade and treatment, treat their investors as their own domestic investors set of rules and guarantees can do what they want in the province. . NAFTA is significant because it is essentially a tariff agreement designed to facilitate trade and ensure that North American producers receive preferences over goods not originating in the U.S., Canada or Mexico. According to the International Monetary Fund, trade among the three NAFTA countries more than tripled between 1993 and 2007.
Bill of Rights
The Canadian Bill of Rights was enacted by the Parliament of Canada on August 10, 1960 under the leadership of Prime Minister Diefenbaker, who had been campaigning for the protection of human rights since he became a Member of Parliament in 1945. Concern for civil liberties had surfaced during this time partly in response to the atrocities and human suffering which occurred during the Second World War. It protects rights to equality before the law and ensures protection of the law; it protects the freedoms of religion, speech, the press, and of assembly and association; and it guarantees legal rights such as the rights to counsel and “fair hearing.” Laws are to be construed and applied so as not to detract from these rights and freedoms.
‘Stagflation’
Stagflation, the combination of high unemployment and high rates of INFLATION. Prior to the late 1960s, variations in economic activity were caused primarily by “demand shocks” (fluctuations in aggregate demand or total expenditure). high prices across the economy. Two governments came into power to respond to the welfare state – the election of Ronald Regain – neo-liberal policies. Under their leadership – systematic attempt to roll-back the state – the state had become so intrusive – creating waste and troubles – simply cannot get going. Brian Mulroney we need a leaner and meaner Canadian state – new economy cannot afford to not be competitive – it is not going to be attractive for the global economy – to much waste and social spending – base our new philosophy on global reliance on the private market place. a group of corporate executives they allied themselves and convinced Brian that thus was a good thing – the leader at that time – went to Canadian business owners – convince them to join the free trade regime. Inflation is significant because not knowing what high prices and unemployment can do to the economy can then lead to a recession where everything is at a halt and a period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity are reduced, generally identified by a fall in GDP
Quiet Revolution
The dramatic change of values, attitudes, and behaviour pf French-Canadian Quebeckers, a new collective self-confidence, a new brand of nationalism, an an enormous expansion on the role of the provincial state that characterized Quebec in the 1960s. In the late sixties, the federal government under Prime Minister Trudeau proposed a two-fold strategy to improve federal-provincial relations. To enhance and encourage francophone participation in all national institutions, a policy of official bilingualism was set forth. To guarantee individual rights as well as the rights of Canada’s two official linguistic communities, a renewed Constitution with an inserted Charter of Rights and Freedoms was tabled. The first goal was achieved in 1969, with the passing of the Official Languages Act. The second objective was accomplished with the Constitution Act, 1982 (see Patriation of the Constitution), which incorporated a Charter of Rights and Freedoms and a general amending formula based on seven provinces comprising over 50 per cent of the Canadian population. The Quiet Revolution is a major reference point used by successive Québec governments in power since the Liberal defeat in 1966. It is an event used to distinguish the old-guard socio-political structure of the past from the post-Revolutionary paradigm.
Meech Lake Accord
The 1987 package of constitutional amendments intended to bring Quebec back onto the constitutional fold. The Meech Lake Accord failed to be ratified by Quebec, and was seen as a rejection from English-speaking Canada. n 1987 the Progressive Conservative government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney attempted to win Québec’s consent to the revised Canadian Constitution — following the Québec government’s rejection of it in 1981. The result was the Meech Lake Accord, an agreement between the federal and provincial governments to amend the Constitution by strengthening provincial powers and declaring Québec a “distinct society.” Constitutional veto restored –> no changes can occur unless the province agrees –> Quebec recognized as a “distinct society” –> wanting to be recognized as a different nation. Jurisdictional control over immigration –> have control on who comes in and out –> Role in supreme court of Canada appointments –> list would be provided Quebec rep. Financial compensation for opting-out –> Quebec can opt out of the federal programs –get the money and create their own program. They were not that thrilled, Quebec was the first to agree the accord. PET came out of retirement – saying that Quebec is to much power. He made a statement he said the federal state would become the head waiter of the provinces. Rest of Canada outside Quebec – major impact that it shouldn’t be recognized as a distinct idea, all provinces should be equal and symmetrical. The Accord gave constitutional status to those agreements. It was significant because it was intended to persuade the government of Quebec to symbolically endorse the 1982 constitutional amendments by providing for some decentralization of the Canadian federation. The proposed amendments were initially popular and backed by nearly all political leaders.
