The Case of Asymmetry in Canadian Federalism
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Authors
Smith, Jennifer
Date
2005
Type
working paper
Language
en
Keyword
Asymmetric Federalism Series 2005
Alternative Title
Abstract
Consternation about asymmetry in the conduct of federal-provincial-territorial relations in Canada ebbs and flows. It has received more attention recently on account of the sideagreement on health care negotiated between Ottawa and Quebec that accompanies the healthcare accord signed by Ottawa and the rest of the governments in September 2004. Well-known pollster and pundit Allan Gregg argues that the precedent of side deals raises the spectre of “Frankenstein federalism”, that is, a federal system that is “reduced to a patchwork quilt of unequal parts.” One is tempted to respond that Canada already is a patchwork of unequal parts. However, that hardly does justice to Gregg’s argument, which is an argument about principle rather than the substance of public policy on health care. He contends that the country ought to pursue a vision of symmetrical federalism according to which the provinces are treated equally.
Description
© IIGR, School of Policy Studies, Queen’s University
Citation
Publisher
Queen's University Institute of Intergovernmental Relations