Unit 1 - Thinking about Canadian society and government

Chapter 1: Thinking Government. Looked at the 6 traditional and ongoing challenged to public policy, administration and sector management today. Also touched on basic government terms.

Allophone

A person whose first language (mother tongue) is neither English nor French, the country’s two official languages.

Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982)

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, often simply referred to as the Charter in Canada, is a bill of rights entrenched in the Constitution of Canada, forming the first part of the Constitution Act, 1982. The Charter guarantees certain political rights to Canadian citizens and guarantees the civil rights of everyone in Canada.

Must be respected by all Canadian governments and their officials.

State

The portion of society comprising the broad public sector, as opposed to the private sector, and based on the institutions of government.

Referendum

A direct vote by the public on a specific issue or question, usually of national or regional importance. Instead of being decided by elected representatives (like in Parliament), the issue is put directly to the people.

• It’s a form of direct democracy, meaning citizens vote directly on a law, policy, or constitutional change.

Socio-economic policy

The collective state policies designed to address social (health, education, welfare, environmental, and cultural) concerns and their relationship to economic (trade, business, income, commercial, and tax) concerns.

Regulation

Regulations are detailed rules made under the authority of a law (statute) passed by Parliament or a provincial legislature.

• Public mandates and requirements established by either federal or provincial law to control, direct, and influence the actions of individuals, private firms, or related government institutions in order to achieve a public purpose.

Crown Corporation

A publicly owned organization created by legislation (an Act of Parliament or a provincial legislature).
It’s owned by the government, but operates more independently, like a business to deliver public services or manage commercial activities. Not a department and thus is not headed by a minister but by a board of directors appointed by the government.

• Public control over essential services (like insurance or electricity),

• Operational flexibility (they can act faster than departments),

• To run commercial activities that aren’t suited to daily political oversight,

• To balance public interest and business efficiency.

Bureaucratization

When social and economic affairs become subject to the control or influence of the government.

Equalization Policy

A federal system of fiscal assistance to poorer (Have not) provinces paid for by federal funds. No province alone can stop the program.

• Used to ensure that public services in poorer provinces is roughly comparable to the national average.

  • Have provinces: Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador

  • Have not provinces: Manitoba, PEI, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Quebec (moves from have / to have not)

• Enshrined in subsection 36(2) of the Constitution of Canada.

Public Policy 

The broad priorities, goals, and objectives of a government entity with respect to human activity and the interests of the government.

Public Sector Management (PSM)

The administrative functioning of the state and its officials.

The methods by which state officials organize themselves in order to implement public policies, traditionally focused on the mobilization of financial resources (budgeting policy), human resources (personnel policy), and operational and strategic leadership.

Program Administration

The managerial techniques of implementing public policy.

Program administration uses the tools of financial, operational, and human resources management to deliver programs to the public that meet policy goals.

The Constitution Act (1982)

Legislation resulting from an agreement signed by the federal government and all provincial governments, with the exception of Quebec, to patriate the constitution, establish a constitutional amending formula, and create the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Constitution sits at the very top of Canada’s legal system. If Parliament or a provincial legislature passes a law that goes against the Constitution (for example, violates Charter rights or oversteps jurisdiction), the courts can strike that law down.

• The Charter is a part of the larger constitution. 

• Divided powers between the provincial and federal government.

• Holds the government accountable for decisions (limits powers if necessary, for a free and just society).

Aboriginal Title

The constitutional concept that First Nations retain an inherent relationship of care, concern, and responsibility for protecting and preserving their lands.

Land Claims 

The allocation of land rights between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations and the compensation owing to the First Nation for lands relinquished or improperly seized in the past.

• This can include both specific and comprehensive. 

• Specific Land Claim: Deal with past wrongs against First Nations. These claims (made by First Nations against the Government of Canada) relate to the administration of land and other First Nation assets and to the fulfilment of historic treaties and other agreements.

• Comprehensive Land Claim: Modern Day Treaties. Settlement of these claims comprises a variety of terms including money, land, forms of local government, rights to wildlife, rights protecting language and culture, and joint management of lands and resources.

  • Based on the traditional use and occupancy of land by Indigenous peoples who did not sign treaties and were not displaced from their lands by war or other means.

Aboriginal Title

The constitutional concept that First Nations retain an inherent relationship of care, concern, and responsibility for protecting and preserving their lands.

Recognition of Indigenous land title and rights. 

Cut government

Privatization, deregulation, individual and corporate tax rate lowering, reduction of government bureaucracies, etc.

Governments should be given a much smaller role to play in society, allowing the private sector to take the lead in providing goods and services. This is promoted mainly by conservative leaders and parties.

Government restraint

Refers to efforts by federal, provincial, or municipal governments to limit or reduce public spending, especially during times of fiscal pressure, economic downturn, or when addressing budget deficits.

• Includes reduced welfare; 

• Reduced claims accepted; 

• Increased university and school costs;

Six Traditional & Ongoing Challenges 

(to Public Policy, Sector, etc.) 

1. French – English relations and the issue of Quebec

2. Canadian regionalism, regional disparities and regional policy

3. Canadian immigration and refugee policy

4. Canadian-American relations 

5. Canadian environmental policy 

6. Indigenous policy and relations with First Nations