Federalism in CanadaDiversity, Rights and Democracy

Keith BantingQueen’s University

Federal UnionCanada House 14 November 2007

The federal idea in the 21st century

Multi-level governance in the contemporary era Supra-national economic institutions Pressures for responsiveness to local cultures Growing ethnic diversity and multiple identities

Federalism as a form of multi-level governance Divided sovereignty: diversity and unity Historic form: USA (1789), Switzerland (1848), Canada (1867) Growing appeal of federal and quasi-federal solutions

Canada as an interesting case Multicultural, multiracial, multination state Managing multiple identities on a continental scale

Assessing federalism: three criteria

Federalism and diversity

Federalism and citizenship rights

Federalism and democracy

Canada as a federation

Canada as a federation

Adopting the federal compromise Reasons for union:

Securing a continent-wide economy Collective defence

Reasons for decentralization Governance over vast geography Accommodation of cultural diversity

The Canadian model of federalism

Federalism and Westminster parliamentary system

Decentralized division of legislative authority

Limited instruments of regional / intergovernmental consensus-building

Central role of executive federalism

Federalism and accommodating diversity

Diversity in Canada

Diverse diversity in Canada Canada and Quebec Aboriginal peoples Immigrants / ethnocultural groups

Multiculturalism and Canadian identity

Federalism and the pan- Canadian community

Concern over the pan-Canadian community

Debate over social integration / cohesion

Pride in Canada

-0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4

Aboriginal

Que Francophone

Southern European

Eastern European

S. Asian/ Middle East

East Asian

Caribbean/African

Marginal effect of ethnicity on probability of x=1, for Pride in Canada

No Controls+ Immigrant Status...+ Age...+ Religion

significantsignificant significantsignificant

Belonging in Canada

-0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4

Aboriginal

Que Francophone

Southern European

Eastern European

S. Asian/ Middle East

East Asian

Caribbean/African

Marginal effect of ethnicity on probability of x=1, for Belonging in Canada

No Controls+ Immigrant Status...+ Age...+ Religion

significant significant

Strengthening pan-Canadianism

What is the social glue? Building a shared identity? Strengthening liberal democracy?

Instruments of the common community Citizenship rights Democratic processes

Federalism and citizenship rights

T.H. Marshall and citizenship rights Civil rights Political rights Social rights

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Social rights: federalism and social citizenship

Decentralization in social benefits

Ranking of centralization of legislative responsibility

Pensions, health, unemployment insurance, work injury, family allowances, social assistance

Germany 6.0 Austria 5.5 Switzerland 5.5 Australia 5.0 Belgium 5.0 USA 3.0 Canada 2.5

Source: Obinger et al 2005

Federalism and democracy

Democratic participation and social integration

Federalism and democracy: the theory Checks and balances Responsiveness to local communities Experimentation in public policy

Executive federalism and a democratic deficit? Constrains openness and transparency Constrains public participation Reinforces elitist forms of decision-making

Reported electoral turnout

-0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4

Aboriginal

Que Francophone

Southern European

Eastern European

S. Asian/ Middle East

East Asian

Caribbean/African

Marginal effect of ethnicity on probability of x=1, for Political Participation

No Controls+ Immigrant Status...+ Age...+ Religion

significantsignificant significantsignificant

Canadian themes

Federalism and diverse communities Variable geometry of attachment Multiple identities and thinner conceptions of citizenship

Federalism and the common community Citizenship rights Democratic participation

Thank you