In the context of Canada’s political landscape, Canadian Federalism stands as the leading text on federal institutions and processes, analyzing the performance, effectiveness, and legitimacy of the federation’s core components. The fifth edition features contributions from twenty experts, including six new authors, who explore the socio-economic foundations, institutions, and intergovernmental relations that shape Canadian federalism.
The book is organized into three parts: it examines Canada as a case of comparative federalism; explores key social, economic, and environmental policy areas; and reimagines the federation by addressing Indigenous multi-level governance and the role of municipalities. By employing a common evaluative framework, this volume ensures consistency and analytical rigour, making it accessible to both students and scholars. The authors provide diverse assessments of Canadian federal institutions, highlighting different models of federalism under the Justin Trudeau government, such as collaborative federalism in certain areas and unilateralism in others.
In a time of political polarization and calls for reform, Canadian Federalism is essential reading for understanding the complexities of Canada’s governance and the urgent need for institutional improvements.
List of Figures and Tables
Contributors
Preface
Part One: Socio-Economic Foundations, Institutions, and Processes of Canadian Federalism
1. Canadian Federalism: Performance, Effectiveness, and Legitimacy
Herman Bakvis and Grace Skogstad
2, Self-Rule vs. Shared Rule: Canada as a Case of Comparative Federalism
Jörg Broschek
3. Quebec and the Canadian Federation
David Cameron
4. The Courts, the Division of Powers, and Judicial Decision-Making
Dennis Baker
5. Federalism, Factionalism, Populism, and Parties
Rob Currie-Wood and Jared Wesley
6. The Contingent Nature of Intergovernmental Relations in a Complex Federation
Robert Schertzer
Part Two: The Social and Economic Union
7. Economic Governance in the Canadian Federation
Grace Skogstad and Matt Wilder
8. International Trade and the Evolution of Canadian Federalism
Christopher Kukucha
9. Fiscal Federalism in the Canadian Federation
Trevor Tombe
10. The Three Federalisms and Change in Social Policy
Keith G. Banting
11. Transformative Change in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) or More of the Same? Child Care in the Canadian Federation
Linda A. White, Jenna Quelch, and Martha Friendly
12. Federalism and Canadian Health Care: Still Not Quite Universal
Herman Bakvis
13. Federalism and Immigration in Canada
Mireille Paquet
14. Federalism and Climate Change
Mark Winfield
Part Three: Reimagining the Federation
15. Nation to Nation? Canadian Federalism and the Politics of Indigenous Multi-Level Governance
Martin Papillon
16. Municipalities in the Federation
Jack Lucas and Alison Smith
17. Conclusion: Taking Stock of Canadian Federalism
Grace Skogstad and Herman Bakvis
Index
Height:229
Width:152
Spine:25
Weight:1.00