I totally agree with your list of remedies, especially the depoliticizing of institutions,
But I must point out that fed-prov conflict has been the norm since at least the 70s, if not since the beginning of Canada...
When was this golden age of which you speak?!
Some may think the unpopularity of Justin Trudeau is unprecedented, but I grew up in AB in the 70s-80s, and no PM has ever been reviled as much as PET then and there. BTW, I was and remain a fan of both Trudeaus, ha! I was as socially popular as Gretzky haters....
Our federal system of very strong provincial powers is both democratically robust (local decision-making, regional diversity, etc.) and very messy and inefficient.
The Covid challenge exposed many fault lines around national coordination esp re data sharing, comms plans, etc.
Conflict between levels of government is practically Canada's motto.
Conservatives complain that Canada is broken, yet much of what doesn't work well is because we culturally do not accept national authority. We place a very high value on autonomy and freedom.
It feels like the provincial conservatives premiers are the biggest bad actors here, playing along with their F Trudeau base. I wonder how that changes if there is a Poilievre federal government?
Alberta in particular should feel emboldened to build relations with the forthcoming Trump administration as the Feds have proven their willingness to throw the Province under the bus on every issue. The enemy of the Trudeau government is the friend of the Alberta government. The Sovereignty Act may be strange and even illegal, but its purpose is to up the stakes. Alberta needs to signal its willingness to take Canada into another constitutional crisis if the Feds refuse to stay in their own lane. I view it much the same as Lougheed reducing gas shipments to Laurentian Canada in the 80s or Notley threatening to curtual oil and refined product shipments to BC due to its obstruction of TMX. Hopefully Trudeau's exit will de-escalate tensions with the Provinces and with the US.
the article is interesting, lots of shoulds, coulds and ought tos, but no does and has done. Platitudes and hope rather than action. In certain areas the short term political interest of provincially minded Provincial leaders will always undermine the necessary effort. no matter the size of the Federal chequebook, what have I and other Canadian taxpayers spent on TMX pipeline?, I don't see Alberta weaning itself off tar sands crude and the associated environmental consequences. after all the price is being paid elsewhere, in the boreal forests, in Quebec forests, flooding in BC and Ontario, deaths from too hot summers in Vancouver and Toronto and more. the list is huge. And after all the money and incentives from industry is ruling the government policies. So what concrete actions are Alberta and Saskatchewan taking to reduce CO2 and methane. put those on the table and then start talking. Doug Ford threatening energy export controls was very well received by Alberta and Quebec, right?. Something so simple shows the inability of Provinces to put aside local self interest for the broader good. proposing more committees is not the solution. at all levels the 'leaders' need to be practical and concrete and develop an action plan. i like many other Canadian am fed up with all their behaviours.
Asked a blunt question & received fanciful aspiration .. Apparently you have zero insight re contemporary Premiers such as Danielle Smith or Doug Ford much less the Elected MP of Carleton Federal Riding 🦎🏴☠️🍁
Team Canada died as a concept when too many of its participants decided that they’d rather be compradors for China than play for the home team. That’s been pretty much the stance of the entire Justin Trudeau administration from day one.
“…sometimes populists go beyond challenging the “gatekeepers” to dismantling the gates altogether.”
This goes along the lines of other political analysis “
“…the democratic state is understood as an impediment to the sort of ‘progress’ they desire.”
“The concept of a unified citizenry is rapidly giving way to tiered citizenship…”
Suzanne Schneider
Conservative political architectural structures, you suggest, are somewhat confusing.
Perhaps I misunderstand, your past criticism of Alberta authoritarianism ( post secondary funding etc) did not suggest more dismantling given to populists?
Your suggestion sounds balanced but does not address the core issues of our current political archeological issues.
How has federal money worked in Alberta when they have sent back funds (clean wells)etc. ?
“…break[ing] the trust ties required to get things done on a national level.”
Interesting observations. Canada urgently needs fundamental changes to our intergovernmental relations architecture to restore domestic & international coherence. See “Fixing Federal Dysfunction” chapters 10,11 of my book “Canada’s Faux Democracy” at https://deborahcoyne.ca/
It has recently coalesced in my mind that one of the most important questions Canadian voters should be putting to all politicians in this time of eroding liberalism and social solidarity is “How are you going to restore societal trust?”.
Your recommendations seem like an important part of the answer.
I totally agree with your list of remedies, especially the depoliticizing of institutions,
But I must point out that fed-prov conflict has been the norm since at least the 70s, if not since the beginning of Canada...
When was this golden age of which you speak?!
Some may think the unpopularity of Justin Trudeau is unprecedented, but I grew up in AB in the 70s-80s, and no PM has ever been reviled as much as PET then and there. BTW, I was and remain a fan of both Trudeaus, ha! I was as socially popular as Gretzky haters....
Our federal system of very strong provincial powers is both democratically robust (local decision-making, regional diversity, etc.) and very messy and inefficient.
The Covid challenge exposed many fault lines around national coordination esp re data sharing, comms plans, etc.
Conflict between levels of government is practically Canada's motto.
Conservatives complain that Canada is broken, yet much of what doesn't work well is because we culturally do not accept national authority. We place a very high value on autonomy and freedom.
But freedom has a price.
It feels like the provincial conservatives premiers are the biggest bad actors here, playing along with their F Trudeau base. I wonder how that changes if there is a Poilievre federal government?
The Trudeau government reaps what it sows. It has made aggressive intrusions into Provincial jurisdiction often with minimal to no consultation. For example: https://torontosun.com/news/national/prairie-provinces-ontario-say-no-consultation-on-new-2030-emissions-target
Alberta in particular should feel emboldened to build relations with the forthcoming Trump administration as the Feds have proven their willingness to throw the Province under the bus on every issue. The enemy of the Trudeau government is the friend of the Alberta government. The Sovereignty Act may be strange and even illegal, but its purpose is to up the stakes. Alberta needs to signal its willingness to take Canada into another constitutional crisis if the Feds refuse to stay in their own lane. I view it much the same as Lougheed reducing gas shipments to Laurentian Canada in the 80s or Notley threatening to curtual oil and refined product shipments to BC due to its obstruction of TMX. Hopefully Trudeau's exit will de-escalate tensions with the Provinces and with the US.
You read the Toronto Sun ..?
It's from the Canadian Press. The Toronto Sun is one of many outlets who carried the story.
https://thehub.ca/2024/11/21/jared-wesley-and-samuel-goertz-want-to-more-effectively-fight-climate-change-canada-let-the-provinces-take-the-lead-together/
the article is interesting, lots of shoulds, coulds and ought tos, but no does and has done. Platitudes and hope rather than action. In certain areas the short term political interest of provincially minded Provincial leaders will always undermine the necessary effort. no matter the size of the Federal chequebook, what have I and other Canadian taxpayers spent on TMX pipeline?, I don't see Alberta weaning itself off tar sands crude and the associated environmental consequences. after all the price is being paid elsewhere, in the boreal forests, in Quebec forests, flooding in BC and Ontario, deaths from too hot summers in Vancouver and Toronto and more. the list is huge. And after all the money and incentives from industry is ruling the government policies. So what concrete actions are Alberta and Saskatchewan taking to reduce CO2 and methane. put those on the table and then start talking. Doug Ford threatening energy export controls was very well received by Alberta and Quebec, right?. Something so simple shows the inability of Provinces to put aside local self interest for the broader good. proposing more committees is not the solution. at all levels the 'leaders' need to be practical and concrete and develop an action plan. i like many other Canadian am fed up with all their behaviours.
.. a prospective Poilievre government offers what ? 🦎🏴☠️🍁
https://thehub.ca/2024/11/21/jared-wesley-and-samuel-goertz-want-to-more-effectively-fight-climate-change-canada-let-the-provinces-take-the-lead-together/
Asked a blunt question & received fanciful aspiration .. Apparently you have zero insight re contemporary Premiers such as Danielle Smith or Doug Ford much less the Elected MP of Carleton Federal Riding 🦎🏴☠️🍁
Respect of jurisdictional split between the two order of government and a focus on improving Canada's dismal economic performance.
Team Canada died as a concept when too many of its participants decided that they’d rather be compradors for China than play for the home team. That’s been pretty much the stance of the entire Justin Trudeau administration from day one.
“…sometimes populists go beyond challenging the “gatekeepers” to dismantling the gates altogether.”
This goes along the lines of other political analysis “
“…the democratic state is understood as an impediment to the sort of ‘progress’ they desire.”
“The concept of a unified citizenry is rapidly giving way to tiered citizenship…”
Suzanne Schneider
Conservative political architectural structures, you suggest, are somewhat confusing.
Perhaps I misunderstand, your past criticism of Alberta authoritarianism ( post secondary funding etc) did not suggest more dismantling given to populists?
Your suggestion sounds balanced but does not address the core issues of our current political archeological issues.
How has federal money worked in Alberta when they have sent back funds (clean wells)etc. ?
“…break[ing] the trust ties required to get things done on a national level.”
Thanks for your reflections.
Interesting observations. Canada urgently needs fundamental changes to our intergovernmental relations architecture to restore domestic & international coherence. See “Fixing Federal Dysfunction” chapters 10,11 of my book “Canada’s Faux Democracy” at https://deborahcoyne.ca/
It has recently coalesced in my mind that one of the most important questions Canadian voters should be putting to all politicians in this time of eroding liberalism and social solidarity is “How are you going to restore societal trust?”.
Your recommendations seem like an important part of the answer.
There was one small step taken yesterday with the Aggrement initiated by Francois Legault and Andrew Furey.
I was shocked when the Premier of Quebec previously had said that the deal was wrong and unfair.
Most other Quebec premiers knew that it was wrong but said nothing or said you signed, the courts said your signed, to bad so sad.
What an excellent article and summation
Of Canada's internal strife.