In my earlier blog “Time to reset our dysfunctional federation“, I argue that Canada requires a serious federalism reset. We need a functional intergovernmental structure designed to facilitate the collaboration and harmonization across all levels of Canadian governments, so all Canadians come together to build and sustain a coherent Canada again, especially in the face of a hostile US.
In 1982, when we patriated the constitution, we entrenched the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which, over more than forty years, has become a strong symbol of Canadian unity for Canadians everywhere.
But this was only one very significant step in reinforcing Canadian sovereignty and a unique Canadian identity outside the shadow of British empire.
Uniting a federation of such significant size and regional and ethnic diversity as Canada requires more than a Charter and the general acceptance of recourse to our courts to provided additional protection of our shared rights and freedoms.
A strong united federation equally requires durable, democratic structures and practices so our elected representatives operate constructively across partisan and regional divides, and different levels of government. Only this can support a productive national economy with equal opportunities for all, access to essential public services of reasonable quality, and a national commitment to reduce economic disparities.
Unfortunately, since 1982, we ignored to our peril the nuts-and-bolts of our federation, and allowed our democracy to crumble.
Our political parties became hollowed out, run by professional political elites and faux-democratic leadership that prefer operating through executive powers outside the legislatures. Our leadership no longer connects meaningfully with citizens, and with the advent of social media, has lost the ability to persuade and inspire Canadians.
As a practical matter, the Canadian parliament is neutered and the federal government operates through the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), in the shadows, arranging so many ad hoc bilateral deals and MOUs (memoranda of understanding) with provincial, territorial, and indigenous governments that we have lost any sense of working together fairly for one Canada.
Our incoherence and lack of accountability and transparency as a federation feed suspicions across our sub-national governments, raises questions about who speaks for Canada, and fatally weakens our position in negotiations with the US.
We must urgently rebuild our democratic institutions and practices, and reestablish full transparency and accountability, so that Canadians can again talk to each other meaningfully about the Canada we are building together.
In “Time to reset our dysfunctional federation” and my eBook Canada on the Edge, I suggest specific ways to renew and restructure our federation, and better integrate diverse provincial/regional perspectives into the legislative process in Parliament through, for example, a restructured elected Senate, or a non-constitutional Council of Canadian Governments chaired by the prime minister.
Whatever the structural change, we need a transparent, accountable, forum that brings governments together to reach workable national agreements on anything from controversial resource development projects, to eliminating internal barriers to the flows of goods, services, investment, and people.
We also need structural change to bring to light, and focus on, the huge web of complex federal-provincial and inter-provincial fiscal transfers and initiatives, that undermine confidence in the fiscal fairness in the federation. An arms-length, transparent, Commission on Federal Transfers reporting to Parliament could, for example, take steps to finally replace the incomprehensible, inequitable, equalization program that has done so much to fuel this distrust.
Such a Commission could also undertake an open analysis of the huge deal proposed between Quebec Hydro and Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Hydro, and the implications for the Canadian federation. The bilateral hydro deal has broader implications for a country-wide energy grid, controlling exports to the US, and albeit indirectly distorting payments under the already messed-up equalization program. Fortunately, the newly elected NL government has called for much more extensive disclosure and assessment, and is committed to engaging NL citizens in a provincial referendum on the proposal.
Certainly, the prospect of a de facto independent Quebec should also now be factored in to discussions. Because Canada is dissolving at this very moment, with Quebec heading out the door, and Alberta possibly close behind.
It you are in doubt, please watch the darkly comedic video post: Quebec is proclaiming independence and no one cares – J.J. McCullough. This explains the Quebec government’s proposed Bill 1 which methodically sets out the final steps towards unilaterally creating an independent Quebec nation nominally within Canada.
Combine this with the Alberta government promotion of the Alberta Sovereignty Act, of a provincial referendum on separation, and its alliance with Quebec to aggressively blame all our economic and social challenges on the federal government and judicial activism.
Canada has reached a breaking point.
It is time for Canadians to wake up, take notice, get informed.
Canada is only as strong as our people and our willingness to find the common ground and threads that bind us together in one national project defending and promoting the idea of one Canada.
But what is that common ground?
It is certainly not a shared fear of Donald Trump and the current economic crisis. These serve only to distract Canadians from the more serious, internal, self-inflicted, challenges we face.
What can Canadians do?
We can encourage our political leadership to firmly focus on three areas: strengthening civic unity across all Canadians; federal renewal that is a positive alternative to our dysfunctional status quo and increases Canadians’ confidence in the fairness and integrity of our federation; and democracy reforms that encourage citizen involvement and bake transparency and accountability into our governance structures.
The aim should be to develop a consensus document in a People’s Convention, that will be the subject of a national consultative referendum to enable the people of Canada, not transitory politicians, to determine the future of Canada. (See a detailed description of the historic 1992 referendum, that mobilized a 72% voter turnout three days after the Blue Jays won their first World Series, in section 1.2 of my eBook Canada on the Edge).
A consultative national referendum will permit open, constructive debate and enable Canadians to indicate clearly whether we approve of the proposed renewal of the Canadian federation.
If a substantial (tbd) majority of citizens in any province do not agree to support a renewed federation, the province leaves Canada. A renewed federation then links together the remaining provinces north of the 49th parallel.
Canadians constitute a democratic people, a sovereign people, not a community of communities. Canada as a political society can only be dissolved by a decision of the collective democratic community, the wishes of which are represented and mediated by federal institutions and a national referendum. Canada cannot be dissolved by the decision of a single province.
I am, however, confident that both passion and reason will prevail in a free and fair referendum debate and vote, and that Quebecers and Albertans will not leave Canada. And with an end to secession threats once and for all, Canadians will unequivocally support a united, renewed federation that will be much stronger moving forward to meet the emerging challenges of a new world order.
It is time for all Canadians to stand together. Demand a direct say in the future of Canada. Or Canada will be extinguished with a whimper, not even a bang.
For more information, see Deborah Coyne, Canada on the Edge: Canadians must end our faux-democracy now, and urgently rebuild a stronger, united federation (2025).