Modernizing the Canadian Federation
Things are changing in the Canadian federation.

At the recent meeting of provincial and territorial leaders in Charlottetown three major developments should have captured our attention.
  • Quebec is back and determined to play a significant role in Canada.
  • The premiers decided to take common action instead of just whining and snapping against Ottawa.
  • And New ideas were put forth for modernizing the Canadian federation.
It's hard to believe, but Canada's leaders rarely get together and, when they do, it is in a format calculated to promote confrontation not collaboration. We complain about American unilateralism in world affairs but Ottawa's unilateralism is alive and kicking right here at home.

The premiers decided to establish a Council of the Federation to hammer out common policies on such hot issues health care, public health emergencies, international relations and internal trade.

They are also calling for regular annual meetings with the federal government, something with which Paul Martin agrees. And the premiers are establishing a secretariat to analyze "the imbalance" in federal-provincial finances.

Many of these ideas came from Quebec's Premier Jean Charest. They were thought out in depth in a report entitled A Project for Quebec, which was two years in the making under the astute leadership of Quebec's new minister of Intergovernmental Relations, Benoit Pelletier.

This report challenged the Parti Québécois myth that all nations must form independent states. Nevertheless, the Quebec Liberals demand a federal system founded on diversity and balance. In other words, they intend to protect Quebec's unique culture and will not be pushed around by either Ottawa of the other provinces.

It is true that Canada needs to modernize its intergovernmental relations so we can be competitive in a globalized world. We can't go running off in a dozen directions. Canada must speak with one strong voice but a voice based on federal-provincial consensus. So, Quebec must follow through on its plans and convince the other provinces to include Ottawa in the new Council of the Federation. It is the only way for the new Council to attain its twin goals of managing the federation through joint decision-making and of symbolizing cooperative federalism.

In addition, if politicians plan to change our institutions, they must avoid the most common error in previous constitutional discussions. The people must be included from the outset. The public must be informed and be given a chance to provide feedback. The meeting of the premiers in October would be a good time to announce the formation of a "Consultative Council" of leading Canadians, supported by a small secretariat, whose objective would be to inform the public and to advise the Premiers on future changes.

A more effective federalism will allow Canadians to hold their heads a little higher.

John Trent, Centre on Governance, University of Ottawa

Page principale - Contactez-nous