UNIT 1. The Constitution and Canadian Federalism

1. A Constitutional Solution: The Evolution of Canadian Federalism, Gérald-A. Beaudoin, The Parliamentarian, July 1996.

This brief historical essay discusses the evolution of Canadian federalism in recent years and the effect of the Meech Lake Accord on Canadian constitutional attitudes. The author suggests that political powers must be tailored to the needs of the day and that Quebec does, indeed, have an important place in the Canadian federation.

2. How Meech Changed History, Graham Fraser, The Globe and Mail (Toronto), April 26, 1997.

On the anniversary of the famous Meech Lake meeting, the author considers the impact that the unsuccessful Meech Lake Agreement had on subsequent Canadian politics. The agreement, perceived by some as a dramatic success at the time, had a lasting effect upon the language of federalism in Canadian political debates.

3. The Case for Strengthening Federal Powers, Andrew Coyne, Policy Options, April 1997.

Whether Canadian federalism has been too "centralized" or too "decentralized" has been debated for years. This essay suggests that the pendulum has swung too far in the decentralized direction.

4. The Supreme Court Ruling, a Lesson in Democracy, Peter H. Russell, Cité Libre, October/November 1998.

Constitutional scholar Peter Russell explains the implications of the Supreme Court's 1998 ruling on Quebec's right to secede unilaterally from the Canadian federation. The decision, Russell tells us, offers a lesson on what a truly democratic society is all about.

5. The New Constitutional Duty to Negotiate, Dan Usher, Policy Options, January/February 1999.

Following the 1998 Supreme Court's ruling on Quebec's right to secede unilaterally from the Canadian federation, Dan Usher suggests that there now is a new constitutional obligation to negotiate on significant questions. Several important questions, however, remain to be resolved.

UNIT 2. The Parliamentary System

6. Reforming the House of Commons: Lessons from the Past and Abroad, Christopher Garner, Canadian Parliamentary Review, Winter 1998-1999.

A majority in Canadian public opinion polls feel that Parliament is not working. This essay examines procedure reforms in the House of Commons that could lead to more effective government and opposition.

7. Free Votes in the House of Commons: A Problematic Reform, C. E. S. Franks, Policy Options, November 1997.

Political parties generally do not permit "free votes" in Parliament. This article reviews the possible effects that greater use of free votes would have on the processes of representation and decision making in the parliamentary system.

8. Women in Canadian Legislatures 1978-1998, Norma Gauld, Canadian Parliamentary Review, Summer 1998.

Norma Gauld describes the growth of women's representation in Parliament at the federal and provincial level in the last 20 years. While much progress has been made, there is still a long way to go.

9. Is Senate Reform a Dead Issue?, Normand Grimard, Canadian Parliamentary Review, Spring 1997.

The "appropriate" political role for the nonelected Senate has been a topic of debate in Canadian politics since confederation. Normand Grimard examines the question of whether Senate reform should once again be put on an "active" agenda.

10. For the Love of Power: Is Jean Chrétien a Closet Autocrat?, Bruce Wallace, Maclean's, October 19, 1998.

The style of leadership of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien is examined in this article. While his overall popularity has remained high, the centralization of power has implications for Chrétien's leadership.

UNIT 3. The Supreme Court

11. Parliament and the Courts--Who's Legislating Whom?, Philip Kaye, Canadian Parliamentary Review, Autumn 1998.

What should the role of courts be in a parliamentary democracy? The answer to this question has implications for the Supreme Court and legislatures under the Charter of Rights.

12. Needed: A Better Way to Make Supreme Court Appointments, Jeffrey Simpson, The Globe and Mail (Toronto), August 29, 1997.

Judges on the Supreme Court continue to be appointed by a secretive process. Alternative methods of appointing justices are described in this report.

13. We Didn't Volunteer, Bertha Wilson, Policy Options, April 1999.

Former supreme court justice Bertha Wilson argues that the more active role of the Court in relation to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is not a "power grab." Instead, it is a logical result of the 1982 adoption of the Charter and the Canadian Constitution.

14. Reform's Judicial Agenda, Peter H. Russell, Policy Options, April 1999.

The Reform Party has raised issues of judicial reform in recent years. While many of the proposed reforms are good ideas, Peter Russell argues that all federal judicial appointments should not be handed over to provincial legislatures.

UNIT 4. Quebec

15. Models for a Canada-Quebec Partnership, Roger Gibbins, Policy Options, March 1998.

In this essay, Roger Gibbins describes three different possible relationships between Ottawa and Quebec. Discussion includes whether relationships should be among regions or provinces, and argues that a federal perspective suggests that Canada needs more than a loose coalition of provinces or regions.

16. The Economic Dimensions of a Canada-Quebec Partnership, Kenneth Norrie and Michael Percy, Policy Options, March 1998.

Kenneth Norrie and Michael Percy explore economic dimensions of Canada-Quebec partnership models. They conclude that economic integration options are very complex and, lacking a significant concession by either group, it appears that another sovereignty referendum is likely.

17. Arr&ehat;t! You Are Entering a French-Speaking Area, Ray Conlogue, The Globe and Mail (Toronto), March 22, 1997.

The politics of language is the focus of this article. One alternative is to replace the current policy of national bilingualism with a policy of "territorial bilingualism," in which single languages are dominant in different areas of the country, rather than two officially equal languages everywhere in the country. The effect of this in Quebec is addressed here.

18. 50% Plus 1 Too Little, Quebec Majority Says, Richard Mackie, The Globe and Mail (Toronto), August 31, 1998.

In a recent survey, most Quebeckers indicated that a simple majority of 50 percent plus one in a referendum on independence would be insuffient. Although the government of Quebec has indicated that this margin would be sufficient, the public does not share this view.

19. Quebec's Election as Seen from the United States, David T. Jones, Policy Options, March 1999.

David Jones, a former American Minister-Counselor to Ottawa, interprets the results of the 1998 Quebec election. He suggests that although Lucien Bouchard ended up with a strong parliamentary majority, in fact the election could be interpreted as a moral defeat, given the edge that Bouchard had enjoyed.

UNIT 5. The Provinces in the Canadian Federation

20. Not "Distinct Society" but "Distinctive Societies", Alastair M. Taylor, Policy Options, May 1997.

Alastair Taylor suggests that in Quebec's quest for recognition as a "distinct society" it may be more appropriate to seek recognition as having a "distinctive society." This would apply to the culture of other provinces as well.

21. In Praise of Provincial Ascendency, Thomas J. Courchene, Policy Options, November 1998.

The Annual Premiers' Conference can play a significant role in Canadian federalism. As a result, social policy leadership might shift from Ottawa to the provinces. However, the provinces have to demonstrate their capacity to plan and deliver meaningful policy.

22. Fair-Shares Federalism and the 1999 Federal Budget, Thomas J. Courchene, Policy Options, April 1999.

Thomas Courchene describes health and social policies along with Canadian federalism as they relate to the 1999 federal budget and the new Framework to Improve the Social Union for Canadians. Courchene contends that the provinces will become increasingly active in future policies.

23. The Social Union Framework, The Globe and Mail (Toronto), February 5, 1999.

Here is the text from the 1999 Social Union for Canadians agreement between Ottawa and all provinces (except Quebec). This agreement may signal increasing cooperation between levels of Canadian government in the realm of social policy.

UNIT 6. The Canadian Electoral System and Canada's Political Parties

24. Electoral Systems and Representative Legislatures, Lisa Young, Canadian Parliamentary Review, Autumn 1998.

Canadian legislatures are, demographically, unrepresentative. The topic of electoral reform has long been discussed in Canadian politics. In this selection, Lisa Young discusses some of the arguments supporting a new electoral system in Canada. She concludes that virtually any other electoral system would be more representative than Canada's current electoral framework.

25. Round Table on Proportional Representation, Canadian Parliamentary Review, Spring 1997.

In this selection, four provincial legislators and one federal legislator discuss the relative merits of proportional representation as compared to Canada's current first-past-the-post system of elections.

26. Users' Guide to a Clear Majority, Jean-Pierre Derriennic, Cite Libre, December 1998.

Jean-Pierre Derriennic discusses a "real" majority in the context of democratic government and an electoral system as well as a possible Quebec referendum. He suggests that a meaningful majority will be considerably larger than 50 percent.

27. Manning Wins, Barely, Brian Laghi, The Globe and Mail (Toronto), June 11, 1999.

The June 1999 vote that gave Reform Party leader Preston Manning support to continue to build a new conservative political party is discussed in this essay. The united-alternative movement was supported by over 60 percent of party members in a referendum vote.

28. Pragmatic McDonough Nudges NDP to Centre, Edward Greenspon and Jeff Sallot, The Globe and Mail (Toronto), September 21, 1998.

A profile of New Democratic Party leader Alexa McDonough is offered in this report, with a description of her efforts to move the party closer to the middle of the political spectrum than has been the case in the past.

29. Red Alert!, Rae Murphy, The Canadian Forum, October 1998.

This selection discusses the current ideology of the Progressive Conservative Party and its evolution through several recent leaders. Rae Murphy concludes that while the neoconservative wing of the party appears to be in the ascendancy, the "Red" wing of the party, its pragmatists, may yet determine the direction of future party policy.

UNIT 7. The Politics of Culture

30. Seven Myths about Canadian Culture, Susan Riley, The Ottawa Citizen, February 17, 1997.

Susan Riley analyzes several popular myths about Canadian culture and its competitiveness in today's North American economy. Canada needs to act effectively if it wants its culture to remain identifiable and viable in the future.

31. Canada's Culture/Trade Quandary and the Magazine Case, Dennis Browne, Canadian Parliamentary Review, Autumn 1998.

While Canada has traditionally supported open markets, Canada's cultural industries--especially media industries--have demonstrated a conflict between these usual views and a desire to foster culture. Dennis Browne concludes that in the areas of globalization and international trade, cultural questions are a special case that requires protection to survive.

32. Our Flawed New Magazine Policy, Dennis Browne, Policy Options, January/February 1999.

Dennis Browne argues that a strong domestic magazine industry is important to Canada and Canadian culture. However, under both NAFTA and the World Trade Organization agreements, attempts at protective legislation will lead to U.S. challenges.

33. U.S. Magazines Poised to Pounce, Brian Milner and Graham Fraser, The Globe and Mail (Toronto), May 27, 1999.

Under liberalized global trade rules, American magazines are preparing to publish Canadian editions. This may have significant implications for the economic survival of Canadian cultural industries.

UNIT 8. Aboriginal Issues

34. Royal Omission, Tony Hall, The Canadian Forum, January/February 1997.

Tony Hall discusses the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, why it was created, and the opportunity it provides Canadians to include the aboriginal population in its identity.

35. The Writing on the Wall, Rudy Platiel, The Globe and Mail (Toronto), April 22, 1997.

Three major issues affecting the future of Canada's aboriginal peoples are examined here: increasing economic disparity within the native community, modest political progress, and little advancement on native issues in the courts. These three problems are going to be increasingly significant in future years and will require attention and energy to improve the future of Canada's native peoples.

36. Top Court Appalled as Natives Fill Canada's Jails, Kirk Makin, The Globe and Mail (Toronto), April 24, 1999.

The Supreme Court of Canada urged judges to note the number of incarcerated aboriginals when sentencing aboriginal offenders to jail. The population of jailed aboriginal Canadians today is grossly disproportionate.

37. The Big Power Shift, Thomas Walkom, The Toronto Star, December 5, 1998.

The Nisga'a treaty in British Columbia has significant implications for the rest of Canada. It is an illustration of how aboriginal self-government might succeed.

38. Our Land, Thomas Walkom, The Toronto Star, March 28, 1999.

Nunavut officially became a new territory of Canada on April 1, 1999, marking a significant milestone in aboriginal self-government in Canada. Thomas Walkom describes several of the challenges that the new territory will face in the coming months and years.

39. Nunavut: New Canadian Territory Is Vast, and Largely Vacant, David Crary, The Hartford Courant, April 25, 1999.

David Crary describes the new Canadian territory of Nunavut. The economic challenges to this aboriginal territory are discussed here.

UNIT 9. Globalization and International Trade

40. From Colony to Colony, Ian Urquhart, The Toronto Star, April 4, 1999.

In this selection, Ian Urquhart describes Canada's pattern of shifting the legal ties that had connected it with Great Britain to economic ties that connect it with the United States. Urquhart discusses the global implications of this shift.

41. Free Trade 10 Years On: Good or Bad for Canada?, Daniel D. Veniez, Reuven Brenner, and Maude Barlow, The Globe and Mail (Toronto), May 28, 1999.

On the tenth anniversary of the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the United States, two essays evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the agreement for Canadian economics, culture, and global economic relations.

42. Say It Ain't So, Bruce Wallace, Maclean's, July 5, 1999.

The question of the future of the Canadian dollar has received increasing attention in economic discussions in recent years. Will global pressures lead to the creation of a North American dollar, or should Canada simply use the dollar of the United States?

43. Foreign Ownership Is on the Rise, Mark MacKinnon, The Globe and Mail (Toronto), February 1, 1999.

Foreign ownership of Canadian corporations has increased over the last decade and now approaches the 1973 level, when the Foreign Investment Review Act was passed to limit such investment. Mark MacKinnon examines concerns about the economic implications of ownership by global and U.S. industries.

44. Canada and the Euro, Patrick M. Crowley and John McCallum, Policy Options, January/February 1999.

There will be North American economic ramifications of the introduction of the European euro. The growth of the European economic community may lead to a deepening North American economic union.

45. The Global Capitalist Economic Agenda: Impact on Women's Human Rights, Joan Grant-Cummings, Canadian Woman Studies, May 1998.

This essay discusses the extent to which an increasingly globalized economy and North American economic integration have affected the Canadian economy, with special attention to the impact on women's human rights.

UNIT 10. Foreign Policy and the Military

46. The Commitment-Capability Gap: Implications for Canadian Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Era, Louis Nastro and Kim Richard Nossal, Canadian Defence Quarterly, Autumn 1997.

The gap between Canada's military commitments and Canada's capabilities in foreign affairs is discussed in the context of foreign policy and defense reviews.

47. No-First-Use for NATO?, Policy Options, March 1999.

The House of Commons Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committee recommended that NATO adopt a policy stating that it would not be the first to use nuclear weapons in a conflict. This approach of Canadian foreign policy and the military implications for Canada's defense policy is discussed here.

48. Canada to Forgive $80 Million in Debt, Valerie Lawton, The Toronto Star, March 26, 1999.

Canada has traditionally been liberal in its policies on international debt. Recently Canada announced a new foreign policy initiative in which it will forgive as much as $80 million in debt in the global marketplace, thus helping the economies of many of the world's poorest nations.

49. Lecturer to the Americans, Kathleen Kenna, The Toronto Star, April 12, 1998.

Kathleen Kenna reviews the progress of Raymond Chrétien, Canada's ambassador to the United States. Kenna describes how Chrétian has addressed numerous economic and North American issues in his period in office.

50. What Has Happened to Canada's International Leadership?, Joe Clark, The Globe and Mail (Toronto), April 15, 1999.

Canada's role as an international actor and its foreign policy are reviewed in this essay. Former prime minister Joe Clark asks why the Chrétien government chose to support the military policies in Kosovo that it did.