Preview

Regionalism and Its Effect on the Canadian State

Best Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2240 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Regionalism and Its Effect on the Canadian State
Since the beginning of Canadian history, regionalism has had a prominent effect on the country`s political system. The concept of regionalism can be defined as a political ideology grounded on a shared sense of place or attachment and is discussed in terms of Canadian society, culture, economy and politics.1 From the days of confederation, Canada has developed into regional cleavages and identities based on various geographical characteristics, traditional lifestyles and economic interests. Two of Canada`s greatest regionally distinct political cultures are known as Western alienation and Quebec nationalism.2 Historically, the lack of regional awareness and accommodation within Canada’s central government has given rise to a great deal of regional discontent. Much of this discontent comes from the uneven distribution of economic activity amongst Canada`s provinces. Also, federal policies made in favour of central Canada, Ontario and Quebec, are consequently placing the West, the East and the North at an even greater disadvantage. Thus, in this paper I am going to argue that regionalism is weakening the Canadian state and at its worst, is pulling the country apart.
Due to major differences in geography, population and ethnicity, the federal government’s response to Canadian demands differs from region to region. Quebec nationalism is a great example of a distinct regional culture setting back Canadian unity. The historical English vs. French cleavage has been a significant and very influential feature within Canadian politics. Ever since the division of Lower and Upper Canada took place in 1791, French Canadians have been concerned with finding their own independence.2 This became a principal political issue as English Canadians saw this as a threat to the country’s national identity and togetherness. Several constitutional reforms have been made in response to Quebec separatism such as the Notwithstanding Clause, allowing the province to maintain its



References: 1. Stephen, Brooks. Canadian Democracy: An Introduction, fifth edition. Canada: Oxford University Press, 2007. 2. Henderson, Ailsa 3. Kerstetter, Steven. Rags and Riches. Wealth Inequality in Canada. Ottawa: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 2002. 4. Stilborn, Jack 5. D’Aquino, Thomas, G. Bruce Doern, and Cassandra Blair. Parliamentary Democracy in Canada: Issues for Reform. Methuen: Business Council on National Issues, 1983. 6. Canada West Foundation. Regional Representation: The Canadian Partnership. Calgary: The Canada West Foundation, 1981 7. Milner, Henry 8. Dyck, Rand. Canadian Politics, fourth edition. Nelson Education, 2008. 9. Savoie, J, Donald. All things Canadian are now regional. Journal of Canadian Studies, 2000. 10. Lewis, J.P. Canadian Government and Politics. Lecture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Mar. 18, 2010. 11. Fox, Graham. Rethinking Political Parties. Public Policy Forum, 2006.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    "Abolish The Senate: A Sober Second Look at Canadian Democracy." Abolish The Senate RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. .…

    • 1186 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    As a Canadian citizen, I believe that living in one of the most diverse countries in the world can make it hard for everyone to be effectively represented. However, even though people from all over the world have different political views, Canada does a great job in working to represent each and every person. There are a lot of people living in Canada, and their views can range towards either side of the political spectrum. While Canada has taken all these peoples’ views and filtered it into five main political parties, it showed its amazing initiative to find a system that works for everyone. The five main political parties, the Green, Quebecois, Conservative, liberal, and NDP, are all based around the same roots, which is to find a system that makes everything run smoothly. However, they all have a different idea of how the government should be run in order to do so. This political…

    • 531 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Brooks, Stephen (2004) “Canadian Democracy – An Introduction 6th edition” Oxford University Press: Toronto. PP.187-189…

    • 1632 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Brian Mulroney

    • 1100 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Cited: Blake, Raymond Benjamin. Transforming the nation: Canada and Brian Mulroney. Montreal: McGill-Queen 's University Press, 2007.…

    • 1100 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Best Essays

    Canadian History Essay

    • 1139 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Today’s relationship between Quebec and the rest of Canada has been relatively steady. Over the years, Québec has certainly developed separately but in association with the rest of Canada. However, without influence from the past, their relationships would not be what it is today. The development of the French and English relationship follows a long and complicated history. Throughout history, tensions between French and English Canada have been evident. Looking back at World War I and II, one of the key issues that divided English and French Canada was conscription. Quebec was against conscription, while English-Canada supported it. However, this is not the only issue that influenced the relationship between Quebec and the rest of Canada. Throughout history, there have been many defining moments which have influenced this relationship. This essay will outline three defining moments. The first one is ‘the October crisis’, which caused a national sense of crisis when a French separatist group kidnapped 2 government officials. Then, the passing of Bill 101 which brought a controversy both inside and outside of Quebec. And thirdly, ‘The Constitution of 1982’ which changed the contract that linked Quebec to the rest of Canada. These three defining moments have greatly helped to establish the character of the relationship between Quebec and the rest of Canada.…

    • 1139 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    With the United States being Canada’s only neighbor, comparisons and similarities have been made regarding all forms of the two nations for many years. Seymour Martin Lipset tries to explain the difference between Canada and the United States in the 1980s through different aspects, such as religion, economy, culture and politics. However, it is a very difficult task to break down the two country’s similarities and differences through only a few pages. While I believe that Lipset’s arguments on the similarities and differences between Canada and the United States may have been effective in the 1980’s, I do not believe that the same arguments would hold the same weight today as they did back then. Factors have changed within both of the two nations…

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Senate Reform

    • 1909 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Do you feel your government is fair? Does it manage the issues properly, with careful thought, and an open, objective mind? Is it effective? Do you feel that the Senate is a “sober chamber of second thought?” Do you feel that the best interests of the Canadian public are always preserved in the current model of our governance? If so, you’re mistaken. Under our present governance, we have two houses, the House of Commons, and the Senate, the reform to the latter being the main topic of this essay.…

    • 1909 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Interest Groups

    • 2663 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Bibliography: Alford, Robert R. and Roger Friedland, Powers of Theory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985. Banting, Keith, Michael Hawes, Richard Simeon, and Elaine Willis, eds. Policy Choices: Political Agendas in Canada and the United States. Kingston: Queen 's University, 1991. Brickerton, James, and Alain-G. Gagnon, eds. Canadian Politics. 3rd ed., Peterborough: Broadview Press, 1999. Knuttila, Murray. State Theories. 3rd ed., Halifax: Fernwood Publishing, 1992. Malvern, Paul. Persuaders. Toronto: Methuen, 1985. Nye, Joseph S. Jr., Kurt Biedemkopf, and Motoo Shiina. Global Cooperation. New York: The Trilateral Commission, 1991. Presthus, Robert, Elite Accommodation in Canadian Politics. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1973. Pross, Paul A., Group Politics and Public Policy. 2nd ed., Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1985. Seidle, Leslie F., ed. Equity and Community. Ottawa: Renouf Publishing, 1993. Thompson, Clive S., ed. First World Interest Groups. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1993. Thompson, Fred and WT Stanbury, The Political Economy of Interest Groups in the Legislative Process in Canada, Montreal: Institute for Research on Public Policy, Occasional Paper No. 9, viii. Young, Robert, ed. Stretching the Federalism. Kingston: Queen 's University, 1999. Word Count: 2470…

    • 2663 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Canadian Senate has a large role in the Canadian Government. Regardless of the fact that many Canadian’s believe that the Senate should be abolished, I believe that the Senate plays a large role in Canadian order, they are the final stepping-stone for each law passed in Canada. But I do believe the Senate must reconsider and change a select few rules and qualifications for being a senator. I will emphasize and expand my argument on those points in this essay.…

    • 1005 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The significant twentieth century has made Canada, Canada. Several events in the 1900s have had a huge impact on the creation of Canada and Canadian autonomy. These events have put Canada through many stages and have created this great nation that exists today. A strong sense of Canadian nationalism has also become present in Canadians overtime (Marked, 2004), and the desire to become independent from Britain has only grown. For the most part of the century, Canadians felt proud to be British subjects rather than proud to be Canadian (Free, 2007). Throughout the twentieth century, this mindset had slowly changed. Through political laws and battles, through social events of the time, and through the economical hardships and profits, Canada has…

    • 1880 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    of the Senate while others such as the Reform Party want to elect it. Since the…

    • 1798 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Nearly every nation in the world has some form of minority groups from within it. These minority groups aren 't limited to ethnicity, race or religion but can also include language, nationalities, sexual orientation, gender, economic and political groups . However the most domineering groups that seem to be asking for substantial sacrifices made on behalf of the majority of Canadian citizens safety, interests and welfare are Francophones, religious groups (Sikhism in particular) and homosexuals. Due to the Francophones rough history (FLQ crisis, separatists etc.) with the rest of the country and the government, political parties go out of their way to make promises to Quebec in hopes…

    • 1050 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Canada is one of the largest and most culturally diverse countries in the world. These characteristics make the democratic governing of the country a difficult task. A democratic model is needed that respects the fundamental rights and freedoms of various diverse cultures, and unites these cultures over a huge land mass as Canadians. To do this the Canadian government is one which is pluralist. Pluralism is the ideology that groups, (in Canada's case political parties), should rule in government. These parties help protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of everyone living in Canada, regardless of their ethnicity, or religious beliefs. The role political parties play in Canada is vital for maintaining democracy, and party discipline is what keeps these parties together.…

    • 2070 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Municipal Government

    • 2752 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Bibliography: Warren Magnusson and Andrew Sancton, City Politics in Canada, University of Toronto Press, 1983.…

    • 2752 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Grade 10 Civics 10 Final Summative Part A: Structure of Canadian Government There are many components to the Canadian government that work successfully, however certain sectors may benefit from improvement. Canada's political system is based on that of the United Kingdom with representation of the Queen, which we know as the Governor General, and Parliament. Parliament consists of the Senate and the House of Commons. However, the Canadian Government is primarily run by the Prime Minister with support from his cabinet. The Canadian government is a democratic system, which means that the citizens have the right to vote. At the time of confederation, the governor general was meant to represent the monarch and the British government. He or she was to work with the Canadian prime minister and help said person manage all international affair, as at the time Canada was a new nation. However, today the role has altered; their duties include receiving ambassadors, heads of states etc when they come to Canada as well as signing bills as they are passed by parliament. In addition the governor general plays many different ceremonial roles, such as summoning, opening and ending sessions in parliament. The role of the Governor General seems to exist only of the sake of tradition as well as to keep ties to Britain. However, Canada has evolved much past the point of having a British representative “baby sitting” our actions. The Governor General’s responsibilities are unnecessary; therefore this role should be abolished. As a result Canada will be looked upon as more independent by severing ties with Britain. The prime minister is the head of government. This role differs from the one of the head of state in major ways. He or she come into power if the political party said person is representing has won the most seats in the House of Commons during a general election. The prime minister is the most powerful person in government; he or she…

    • 1011 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics