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137 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
What are the four axes of diversity?
1. French and English Speaking Canadians
(1783-1867)
2. Canadians of the 10 Provinces and 3 Territories
(1867-1962)
3. Canadians of Different Ethnic Backgrounds
(1962 - present)
4. Aboriginals and 'Mainstream' Population
What does Kanata mean?
Settlement
In what year did Jaques Cartier found La Nouvelle France?
1534. Cartier was looking for road to Asia. Consisted of Catholic peasants and the fur trade with aboriginals.
When was Quebec City founded?
July 3rd, 1608. By Samuel de Champlain.
What year was Ville Marie founded (Montreal)?
1642. Initially for religious conversion, later for fur trade.
When was the English conquest and royal proclamation?
1759 and 1763. Roman Catholics were excluded from franchise.
When was the Quebec Act?
1774.
- It was a gesture to gain Canadians' loyalty to British Empire
- Recognition of Catholic Church
What year was Versailles Treaty signed (American revolution)?
1783.
- First cohabitation: French / English "Compact Theory"
- Heralded the arrival of the Loyalists (6,000 vs 120,000 Canadians)
- Difficult cohabitation results in loyalists demanding separate legislation.
When was the Constitutional Act (to accommodate Loyalists)?
1791.
1. Creation of Lower Canada and Upper-Canada.
2. Two separate political assemblies.
When was the Union Act?
1840.
- Durham recommends union for assimilation
- Lower and Upper Canada united (East and West)
- 1 political assembly, 2 political communities.
When was the BNA Act?
1867.
What were the reasons for the BNA Act?
1. Political reasons (Union Act led to instability).
2. Economic reasons:
- End of preferential tariffs (UK), US protectionism
- Need to build pan-Canadian railroad
3. Territorial Expansion
- Protection against American expansion
Why a federation?
The French and Maritime specified.
When did Manitoba/NWT join Canada?
BC?
PEI?
Yukon?
Sask. and Alberta?
Newfoundland?
1870
1871
1873
1898
1905
1949
What are the major consequences of provincial expansion?
1. Expansion of territory means diverging interests.
- Different preoccupations / economic inequalities
- different provincial political cultures emerge
- Different population size means political inequality
2. From one English Canada to nine English Provinces
- EC does not think of itself as a sociological nation
- French Canadians still see Canada as 2 nations
When did the Chinese Head Tax begin?
1880's. First $50, then $100, then $500.
When was the push for Eastern European immigration for Western expansion?
1900's. (Decade)
When was the (first) Immigration Act?
1910. With it came the right to prohibit "immigrants from any race deemed unsuited to the climate or requirements of Canada".
When was the beginning of the point based system for immigration selection?
1962
When was the Multiculturalism Policy instituted?
1971
When was the Charter of Rights and Freedoms implemented and what sections pertain to multiculturalism?
1982. Sections 15 and 27.
When was the Multiculturalism Act of Canada?
1988
A constitution is the ...
... fundamental law of a political system.
What are the purposes of the constitution?
1. To set the "rules of the game".
- Relationship between citizens and the state.
- Distribution of power between different parts of state.
- Between leg, exec, judicial
- Between fed and prov
- Procedures for constitutional reform
2. Create a sense of community
What are the components of a constitution?
1. Written documents
ex. BNA Act (1867); Charter of Rights (1982)
2. Decisions of the courts
"Common law"
3. Constitutional conventions
ex. The party who wins the largest number of seats forms the government
What are the three pillars of Canada's Constitution?
1. Parliamentary Government
Self-Government / Majority Rule
Responsible Government
2. Federalism (BNA Act)
3. Charter of Rights
Protecting minorities against the majority.
What does the executive branch consist of?
1. Monarch
2. Governor-General
(And by convention...)
3. Prime minister
4. Cabinet
What does the legislative branch consist of?
1. House of Commons
2. Senate
What is the legislative branch responsible for?
- Making and voting on laws
- Scrutinizing government laws and activities
What is the executive branch responsible for?
The application of laws.
The Queen selects the ______ in theory only. In practice it is the _______ who chooses.
... selects the governor general. In practice the Prime Minister chooses.
The Governor-General, in theory, is responsible for...
- selects party in government.
- decides when parliament is dissolved.
- approves all laws.
When did the Governor-Generals responsibilities transfer to the PM?
1848, with the inception of responsible government.
In theory, the Prime Minister is Canada's ____________.
In practice, the Prime Minister is like Canada's _________.
Head of government.
Head of state.
What are the results of responsible government?
1. PM. and Cabinet members have to be members of the House of Commons (or Senate).
2. In order to govern, the PM and Cabinet require the confidence of the House of Commons.
When is confidence lost?
1. The Budget of any motion related to spending is defeated.
2. Opposition rejects speech from the throne.
3. Opposition proposes and wins a motion of no confidence.
4. Government is defeated on any other vote identified by the government as a vote of confidence.
Why do the PM and Cabinet rarely lose confidence of the House of Commons?
Part Discipline.
What is party discipline?
- A convention of parliamentary government.
- All MP's of a party generally vote as a unified block in the House of Commons.
Responsible Government is the __________________ and implies the sub concepts of _________________________.
Heart of Parliamentary government.
Confidence of the House and Party Discipline.
What is the Principal of Parliamentary Supremacy?
Parliament's authority is superior to that of all other institutions of government; parliament is supreme.
When does the executive branch control the legislative branch?
In situations of majority government (the norm).
The central agencies can be described as...
The "arms" of the executive branch.
What are the purposes of the central agencies?
1. Provide information for the cabinet.
2. Relay between Cabinet and other parts of bureaucracy.
3. Communicate Cabinet decisions to the public.
Central agencies' staff members are _______________.
Super bureaucrats.
What are the four main central agencies and what are they responsible for?
1. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
- PM's personal staff; PM's political eyes and ears
- Almost PM's extension; allowed to speak on PM's behalf.
2. The Privy Council (PCO)
- Responsible for looking after the "big picture"
- "If the government of Canada is a railway, the PCO is Grand Central Station"
3. Department of Finance
- Lead role in "macro" orientation of econ. policy
- Influence has increased since years of deficit reduction
- One of most important "actors" in federal bur. because alone with Finance Minister + PM involved in all stages of budget preparation
4. Treasury Board
- Guardian of the purse strings
- Lead role in micro management of economic matters
What are three ways in which the legislature can scrutinize government activities?
1. Question period (more so with advent of TV)
2. Parliamentary Committees
3. Caucus (for Government MP's)
Why are scholars talking about a democratic deficit?
PM increasingly controls the legislative power, "Prime Ministerial Government".
A federal system in one in which....
....the constitutional authority to make laws and to tax is divided between national and provincial governments.
The federal and provincial governments are __________.
Equals.
What are the three features of the BNA Act?
1. Not everything had to be written in a document.
2. It was mostly concerned about the division of power.
3. It contained nothing on individual rights, amending formula, or responsible government.
What are the powers of the federal government, as outlined in the BNA Act, directly related to? List examples.
1. Economy
2. Territorial expansion
ex. Trade and Commerce, Shipping and Fisheries, Currency, Banking Postal Service, Defense, Foreign Affairs.
What are the powers of the provincial government, as outlined in the BNA Act, directly related to? List examples.
Local matters.
Ex. Education, culture, civil law, health care.
What are two responsibilities that are shared between the federal and provincial government?
1. Immigration
2. Agriculture.
What were two initial features of the BNA Act?
1. It was highly centralized.
- Most significant powers were reserved for fed. govt.
- Prov financially dependent on fed govt.
2. "Quasi federal state"
- s.90 allowed fed. govt. the power to disallow prov. laws through the Governor General
- s.90 Peace, Order and Good Government
Discuss Equalization Payments.
- Fed program to address fiscal disparity between provinces.
- Redistribution from "have" to "have not" provinces.
- No strings attached.
- First real equalization payment system 1957
- Principal entrenched in 1982 Constitution Act s.36(2)
What is federal government spending power? Provide two examples.
- The power to spend in any jurisdiction even in provincial jurisdictions (with strings).
- No systematic opt-out potion with funding for provinces.
ex. Canada Health Transfer, Canada Social Transfer
What is one advantage and one disadvantage of government spending power?
Advantage: Ensures minimum acceptable level of public service across Canada.
Disadvantage: Interference in jurisdiction for which the federal government is not constitutionally competent.
What are the three pillars of Canada's constitution?
1. Parliamentary Government sets the stage for: majority rule and self-government.
2. Federalism sets the stage for: regional division of power.
3. Charter sets the stage for: protection of individuals and minorities.
What events lead up to the creation of the Charter?
- UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
- Civil rights movement in the United Stated
- Increasing social and cultural diversity in Canada
- Canada's Bill of Rights (1960)
Why was the 1960 Bill of Rights not sufficient?
A bill can be modified easily by parliament, meaning future governments could revoke these rights.
What impact did the charter have on the governing principle?
The Charter was a major blow to Parliamentary Supremacy and marked the beginning of Constitutional Supremacy.
What Section cements the supremacy of the Charter?
Section 32:
"The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law of Canada and any law that is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution is, to the extent of the inconsistency, of no force or effect."
What are the vestiges of Parliamentary Supremacy?
Section 1: Reasonable Limits Clause.
Section 33: Notwithstanding Clause
What are the features of Section 1 of the Charter?
Rights and Freedoms are "subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society".
- aka. the rights and freedoms have to be balanced wit the need to govern society.
- Restrictions must respect principle of "reasonable limits" (Bill 101, Kirpan)
- measured by the importance of the objective and proportionality
What are the features of Section 33 of the Charter?
Enables either prov. or fed. governemtn to declare that a law shall operate even if it violates the fundamental freedoms (s.2), legal rights (s.7-s.14), or equality rights (s.15) sections of the Charter.
"What the Charter gives, the legislature may take away"
- Was a compromise to obtain provinces' support.
- Must be renewed after five years.
- in practice was used only four times.
Why is the Charter said to have caused a shift from British to American style politics?
- More prominent role of unelected judges
- Increase in use of courts to solve political disputes
- From collectivist values to values stressing individual interests.
How did the Charter have a centralizing impact?
It provides national standards in protection of rights that transcends federal/provinces and regional differences. It creates a strong pole of identification for Canadians.
How did the Charter create a shift from an elitist to a more participatory model of politics?
The Charter opens the door for direct participation through litigation.
How has the charter depoliticized politics?
- Charter discourse is non-political as it involves no debate.
- Judges decide based on interpretation of documents.
What are the pros/cons of constitutional supremacy?
- The Charter is likely to favour marginalized groups
- But is highly conservative in its evolution (no room for change).
What are the pros/cons of parliamentary supremacy?
- It favours the majority,
- But leaves greater room for change as constitutional conventions are less static than written documents.
How is the composition of the Supreme Court of Canada determined?
As mandated by the SCC Act, 3 from Quebec, and by convention 3 from Ontario, 2 from Western provinces and 1 from Atlantic provinces.
What was the amending formula for the constitution during parliamentary government?
There was no constitution to amend; solely conventions and court decisions.
What was the amending formula for the constitution during federalism?
- No established procedure to change the constitution.
- Requests have to be made to British Parliament.
- No guideline on who would have to agree on content of requests sent to London.
What was the amending formula for the constitution since the 1982 Constitutional Act?
A. Ottawa +7/10 - 50%
- Creation of new province
- Powers of the Senate and the method of selecting senators
B. Ottawa + 10/10
- Composition of Supreme Court
- Queen, Governor General or Lieutenant Governor
- Changing amending procedures
- Use of French or English
C. Ottawa + provinces concerned
- Alterations of provincial boundaries
Amending the constitution requires taking what three things into account?
1. The amending formula (1982)
2. Population consultation (informally)
- From Meech Lake to Charlottetown Accords
3. Calgary Declaration
- Veto for each region in Canada
What is an electoral system?
The means for translating votes into seats. They define the method of voting and the method of counting the votes. Called the mechanical impact.
What is Canada's voting method?
Single-member constituency, one vote.
How many federal constituencies (ridings) does Canada have?
308
What is Canada's counting method?
Plurality system (not majority system).
- Most MP's are elected without the majority of votes.
How frequently is an election held?
Barring an early election being called by the government, or the government losing the confidence of the house, federal elections are held at fixed dates every 4 years.
Who is at a disadvantage from the First past the Post electoral system in Canada?
1. Minor parties. ex. Green Party
2. Parties with support that is not regionally concentrated. ex. NDP
Who is at an advantage from the First past the Post electoral system in Canada?
1. Parties with minimally moderate success in a large number of constituencies. ex. Liberal and Conservative parties.
2. Parties with regionally concentrated support. ex. BQ
What are the cons of the Canadian electoral system?
1. Disadvantages small parties and reduces the number of parties.
2. Under represents social and political diversity.
3. Favours "majorities" over "minorities".
4. Favours low election turnout.
What are the pros of the Canadian electoral system?
1. Bridges interests and favours consensus building.
2. Favours community over individual specificity.
Historically, Canada has had a _________________ system where parties have been _________________.
"Two and a half party system"
"Brokers of ideas"
What does brokerage politics in Canada imply?
1. "Weak" ideological politics (limited left/right politics)
2. Debates are issue oriented.
3. Flexible voters and parties.
4. Every election, parties try to build a winning coalition of voters.
5. Regional, religious and linguistic cleavages rather than class ones.
6. Predominant role of leaders.
List some of the "group" cleavages in Canada? What quote epitomizes this issue?
French vs. English, Catholic vs. Protestants, West, East and Central Canada, multiplicity of ethnic communities.
"Canada is a community of communities" - Joe Clark
What need did brokerage politics fulfill?
Brokerage politics emerged from a need to build coalitions in order to win elections in an electoral system that did not favour the multiplicity of parties.
What is the moniker of the Liberal Party of Canada and why?
The "Natural Governing Party" of Canada. It has formed the government for about 2/3 of the years since 1867.
Why has the Liberal Party been so successful?
1. It was the most competent at brokerage politics.
2. It had one of the longest and most stable coalition of voters: French Canadians, Catholics, Ontario, Canadians of non-European origins.
(It has, however, been falling apart since 1982)
Provide an example of a coalition formed through brokerage politics.
In 1984 and 1988 the Progressive Conservative Part took power forming a coalition of three conservative/regional streams:
1. Westerners (social conservatives)
2. Ontarians (fiscal conservatives)
3. Quebecers (Quebec nationalists)
French Canadian society was organized around the dominant role of the _______________.
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church was the sole institution that was really connected to French Canadians until when?
Until the "institutional door" was opened with the Quebec Act in 1774.
No immigration and a high birth rate coincided with what expression?
"La revanche des berceaux" (Revenge of the cradles).
What was the French-Canadian ideology coined as?
"La survivance"
Survival/resistance against pressure from dominant culture.
The 1940s, slow beginning of the new "era" was marked with what three changes?
1. New social and economic reality (modernization).
Urban population; manufacturing economy.
2. Open challenge to old order ("unholy alliance")
Catholic Church, "anglophone capital" and Union nationale
3. Ideology of "rattrapage" (catching-up_
Qc. state and power strucutre lag behind new reality
What precipitated the "quiet revolution"?
The 1960 victory of Quebec Liberal Party lead by Jean Lesage, which followed the death of Maurice Duplessis and turmoil within the Union nationale.
Provide examples of the responsibilities that shifted from the Catholic Church to the Quebec State during the Quiet Revolution.
1. Social services ex. Public health care
2. Education ex. Ministry of education
3. Economy ex. Nationalization of hydro-electricity
What were three cultural changes that resulted from the Quiet Revolution?
1. French Canadian became Quebecois.
2. From ethnic perception to territorial one.
3. Other French Canaidans were more or less abandoned.
What was the ideological shift resulting from the Quiet Revolution?
"La Survivance" (reproduction) became "Le rattrapage", breaking dependency.
What were the two streams within the Quebec nationalism?
1. Federalist stream (Lib. Party of Quebec, Jean Lesage)
Seeks to ensure Quebec development within Canada but nevertheless has numerous demands for Ottawa
2. The sovereignist stream (Parti quebecois)
Seeks to ensure Quebec development outside federation or under new partnership with Canada
When was the federal governement Official Language Act?
1969
When was Bill 101 - La Charte de la langue francaise?
1977
When was the Meech Lake Accord?
1987-1990
What were the four effects of the Official Languages Act of 1969?
1. Establishment of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages ("watchdog of language equality").
2. Public's right to be served by federal government in the official language of their choice.
3. Equitable representation of francophones and anglophones in federal public services.
4. Ability of federal public servants to work in the official language of their choice.
Why was Bill 101 created?
Until the 1970s, Montreal was primarily an English-speaking city even though it a majority French-speaking population.
What were the four main features of Bill 101?
1. Official language of Qc and Qc institutions is French
(1979 SCC ruled this was against s133 of BNA Act)
2. Workplace is in French (for business of 50+ emp)
3. Public signs have to be in French.
4. Mandatory French education.
SCC decision ruled this violated s23 of Charter. Exception amended from qithin Qc to within Canada
What were Robert Bourassa's five conditions to signing the Meech Lake Accord?
1. Recognition of Quebec as a "distinct society"
2. A constitutional veto for Quebec
3. increased provincial powers with respect to immigration
4. Right for financial compensation to any province that chooses to opt out of any future fed programs
5. Provincial input in appointing Senators and SC judges
What did Robert Bourassa's five conditions centre around?
The two-nation "compact theory".
Why did the Meech Lake Accord Fail?
In practice because it was not ratified by Nfld.
There was strong opposition because:
- It was against the "contract theory" of 10 equal prov.
- Against equality of individuals.
- Against equality of cultures and cultural origins.
- Undermines view of Canada as one nation.
What is regionalism characterized by?
1. Special attachment to /identification with a specific region.
2. Discontent with functioning of "pan-Canadian attachment"
What is the primary disposition of the regions of Canada?
1. BC, AB, SK, MB (The West)
2. Ontario, Quebec (The Centre)
3. NB, NS, PEI, Nfld (Atlantic)
What are the three perspectives on regionalism and its origins?
1. Historical economic development.
- Regionalism arises from strucutre of economic development.
2. The institutional perspective.
- Regionalism arises from the structure and functioning of our political institutions.
3. The regional political culture perspective.
- Regional arises in part from variations in political cultures.
What are the points behind the historical economic development explanation of regionalism?
- Canada's economic development centred on industrialized regions (Ont, Qc) at the expense of resource-based regions (West, Atlantic, Qc).
- Feelings of frustration and alienation emerge out of economic marginalization.
What are the points behind the institutional explanation of regionalism?
- Electoral system and Senate breed discontent. They fail to integrate all regions into Pan-Canadian institutions and fail to accommodate their interests.
- Less populous regions have limited influence. The populous centre always has its say.
What are the points behind the regional political culture explanation of regionalism?
- Qc more collectively oriented than other provinces. Variations in level of political trust, efficacy and involve.
- Rejection of "compact theory" of two nations.
What is one cause of regionalism in the West?
1. A dependent economy.
- National Policy era lays groundwork for understanding regionalism. Western expansion was to fuel centre's economic developement.
- Policies and tools to stimulate economy (tariffs, freight rates) benefited Central Can, not hinterland.
ex. Feds controlled railways, banks, and grain companies. Left western farmers at the mercy of feds.
Also, AB and Sask, did not have control of natural resources.
What is a second cause of regionalism in the West?
2. Institutional domination.
- National policy was difficult to change. Bulk of seats needed to win power were in the centre.
- Senate was not efficient tool to give small regions a voice.
- Most powers needed to address situation were fed.
What were the consequences of institutional domination in Central Canada?
- The National Policy enabled the central provinces to gain enormously from the "exploitation" of the west.
- The Centre emerged as economic powerhouse.
- West plays support role through agriculture and natural resources.
What were the consequences of western "marginalization"?
1. The rise of "Western Populism"
- Rejection of "elite politics"
- Demands for: decision making power for people and accountability, direct democracy, strong prov. govt.
2. The rise of protest movements. ex. Reform Party
- Demands for institutional reform (Triple "E" Senate)
- Demand for greater direct democracy (recall mech.)
- "The west wants in"
What is "Traditional" immigration defined as?
European immigrants resulting from the Immigration Act of 1910.
What is "Non-traditional" immigration defined as?
Asian, African, Middle-Eastern and Caribbean immigrants resulting from the beginning of the point-system in 1962.
What percentage of the population of Canada was British or French in:
1867
1981
2001
1867 - 90%
1981 - 67%
2001 - 46%
What are the three major initiatives that have been put in place in recent Canadian history to protect and promote cultural diversity?
1. The 1971 Policy of Multiculturalism.
2. The 1982 Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
3. The 1988 Multiculturalism Act
What is the legal status, main objective and influence/reach of 1971 Policy of Multiculturalism?
It is a policy, to promote cultural diversity (cultural maintenance) that is mostly symbolic.
What Sections of the Charter pertain to multiculturalism?
Section 27: "The Charter shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the preservation and enhancement of the multicultural heritage of Canadians"
- Empowers the courts to take Can. multicultural reality into account at the highest level of decision-making.
Section 15.1 Protection against discrimination.
Section 15.2 Allows for positive discrimination.
What is the legal status, main objective and influence/reach of 1982 Charter?
It is a constitution, to protect against discrimination and inequality and it must be respected by ministries, government agencies and society (passive).
What is the legal status, main objective and influence/reach of 1988 Multiculturalism Act?
It is a law, to fight discrimination and inequality ("seek and destroy") and it must guide ministries and government agencies (active).
When did aboriginal peoples first arrive in Eastern Canada?
About 10,000 - 11,000 years ago.
What are the four main families/groups of aboriginals?
1. Inuit
2. Algonquians
3. Iriquoians
4. The Plains Indians
What were the four main consequences for aboriginal cohabitation with "Whites"
1. Introduction of alcohol in aboriginal "lifestyle"
2. Population displacement
3. Religious conversion and cultural assimilation
4. Wars and disease
What is a modern example of aboriginal displacement to accomodate "white" economic development?
Hydro-electric development.
What are examples of aboriginal religious and cultural assimilation?
Residential schools which ran from 1870-1996. They destroyed many aboriginal traditions and beliefs and caused social and psychological distress.
What were the lines of division pertaining to European conflicts that involved aboriginals?
Iroquians allied with the British. Algonquians allied with the French.
What are examples of diseases brought to Canada by the Europeans?
Measles, Typhoid, Diphtheria, Smallpox, and diabetes (through change in lifestyle).
What are the three important 'Policy Moments' for Aboriginal politics?
1. Indian Act 1876
- Reserve system and Indian status
- Fed. govt. controls reserves and Ab. development
- Separate communities and dependency.
2. White Paper on Aboriginal reform (1969).
- Attempt to end reserve system and abolish Indian Status.
- Strong opposition - threatens land claims and treaties
- Aboriginal assimilation (cultural genocide)
3. Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People 1996
- Third order Government for Aboriginals
- Recognition and implementation of self-government
- Separate, autonomous and empowered communities