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Political Science Constitutions

Federalism and the Constitution of Canada

by (author) David E. Smith

Publisher
University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division
Initial publish date
Oct 2010
Category
Constitutions, Constitutional
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781442642706
    Publish Date
    Oct 2010
    List Price
    $63.00
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781442611511
    Publish Date
    Oct 2010
    List Price
    $40.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781442694569
    Publish Date
    Sep 2013
    List Price
    $66
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781442694576
    Publish Date
    Oct 2010
    List Price
    $29.95

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Out of print

This edition is not currently available in bookstores. Check your local library or search for used copies at Abebooks.

Description

The Canadian system of federalism divides the power to govern between the central federal parliament and the provincial and territorial legislative assemblies. In what can be seen as a double federation, power is also divided culturally, between English and French Canada. The divisions of power and responsibility, however, have not remained static since 1867. The federal language regime (1969), for example, reconfigured cultural federalism, generating constitutional tension as governments sought to make institutions more representative of the country's diversity.

In Federalism and the Constitution of Canada, award-winning author David E. Smith examines a series of royal commission and task force inquiries, a succession of federal-provincial conferences, and the competing and controversial terms of the Constitution Act of 1982 in order to evaluate both the popular and governmental understanding of federalism. In the process, Smith uncovers the reasons constitutional agreement has historically proved difficult to reach and argues that Canadian federalism 'in practice' has been more successful at accommodating foundational change than may be immediately apparent.

About the author

David E. Smith, FRSC, is the author of Federalism and the Constitution of Canada, The People’s House of Commons, and many books on Canadian politics. He is currently Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at Ryerson University.

David E. Smith's profile page