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.

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

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 commercial enterprise established and owned by either the federal or the provincial state but possessing relative operational autonomy from the government.

Not a department and thus is not headed by a minister but by a board of directors appointed by the government.

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 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.

• 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. 

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