Canadian Politics Core Themes and Ideas (W1)

geographic challenges

• second-largest country

• geographic regions are north-south but political borders are east-west

• if borders followed geography we would have regions like cascadia

population distribution

• much of Canada not ideal for habitation

• major cities are all close to the border

• population is thinly spread east-west, making it harder to build a strong shared national identity

regional identity + divisions

• canadians have strong regional identities:

• creates division between west and central canada, or quebec vs the rest of canada

social diversity (immigration + multiculturalism)

large and growing immigrant population; official multiculturalism policies fund programs that recognise and celebrate cultural diversity

population + economic shifts

• Quebec decline

• western growth → Canada represents a significant share but feels underepresented

• maritime decline (atlantic provinces) → struggles for relevance

economic structure

• dominated by Ontario

• Quebec in decline

• Western growth

core-periphery

• a model describing the relationship between developed and underdeveloped regions where the core areas are economically dominant and the periphery provides resources and labor.

canadian core-periphery

• central canada (core) vs hinterland (resource-producers on the outside)

• results in natural resource debates mattering more to Albertans and Saskatchewanians than to many Ontarians

immigration in canada

• multiculturalist (1967) → immigrants motivated to settle in urban/suburban areas rather than rural

• self-reinforcing → move where opportunities exist, creates more = high housing and affordability issues

liberty

individuals should be as free as possible to pursue their own preferences and make choices for themselves.

equality

equal consideration of each citizen’s interests; equal rights and privileges.

institutional protections of democracy

• federalism

• charter of rights

• constitutionalism

• rule of law

tyranny of the majority

democracy can create a majority rule, which can threaten minority freedoms and equality

• mechanisms are needed to protect minority rights while keeping democracry

harm principle

the validity of government limits on individual liberty