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The Canadian Regime: An Introduction to Parliamentary Government in Canada, Sixth Edition
Now in its sixth edition, The Canadian Regime continues to provide the most accessible introduction to the institutions, processes, and principles of the Canadian political system. The book's focus on the inner logic of parliamentary government explains the rationale for Canada's relatively complex political system, which the authors encourage readers to think of as an organic entity, where change in one area inevitably ripples through the rest of the system.
The new edition includes the results of Canada’s 2015 federal election and looks ahead to consider changes resulting from the Liberal victory. It has been thoroughly updated and revised and introduces several new topics, such as the impact of the previous Conservative government on the conventions and practices of parliamentary government and the important influence of social media on politics. Two new co-authors, Gerald Baier and Thomas M.J. Bateman, join Patrick Malcolmson and Richard Myers to bring new expertise in the areas of federalism, judicial politics, Charter jurisprudence, political parties, and the ongoing health care debate.
The new edition includes the results of Canada’s 2015 federal election and looks ahead to consider changes resulting from the Liberal victory. It has been thoroughly updated and revised and introduces several new topics, such as the impact of the previous Conservative government on the conventions and practices of parliamentary government and the important influence of social media on politics. Two new co-authors, Gerald Baier and Thomas M.J. Bateman, join Patrick Malcolmson and Richard Myers to bring new expertise in the areas of federalism, judicial politics, Charter jurisprudence, political parties, and the ongoing health care debate.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2001
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August 6, 2020illuminates a lot of aspects about the Canadian government, such as the division (and fusion) of powers, the theory of responsible government, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the judiciary, the strengths and flaws of federalism, among others. The exact, measured writing verges on legalese at times, but the anecdotes and examples that abound within the text demonstrate the vibrancy of parliamentary argumentation in Canada.
March 13, 2020
I can definitely say that I feel more informed about the government of my country after reading this book, though I'll admit that I haven't finished it, with the last third of this work being a copy of the constitution acts of 1867 and 1982. I'll also add that it's surprising to see how history records events, having read "Danny Williams: The War with Ottawa", it's author managed to fill almost 300 pages with his narrative, but in a book of Canadian political history, the whole event can be summed up into one paragraph. I think one of the questions I've struggled with, after having read "Lament for a Nation", is the idea of defining Canadian culture. (Outside of the question of, as having come from an immigrant background, if I'm even qualified to answer that question.) Though, I think after reading this work I've come closer to an answer. The very way our government is set up, as a limited federation under a parliamentary government, means that the different regions of Canada are eternally antagonizing each other. Quebec being the easiest example, having a political party who's mission is essentially to try and leave the country altogether and being publicly defined by one Prime Minister as "a nation within a nation" . The fact that the western provinces, central Canada, Quebec and the maritimes have never seen eye to eye on decisions regarding their autonomy means that this idea of having a unified identity is impossible. One can argue that the reason why Canada even exists is because our former colonies, afraid of American expansion northwards, simply decided to team up so as to "not be Americans". This is just my opinion after having read this work, which itself was designed to be fairly unbiased and more on the technical side. I thought the authors did a great job in writing something understandable and interesting for a layperson like myself and I'd recommend this to other Canadian readers.
Some quotes I found interesting:
"It is undeniable that majority rule can, and too often does, involve unjust treatment of those in the minority. For instance, a majority of voters could elect a government that would forbid members of a non-white minority to own property. Such legislation would be democratic in that it expresses the will of the majority, but it would also be unjust. The fact that something is democratic does not necessarily mean that it is right. In contemporary terms, we would distinguish between a decent democratic regime and tyranny of the majority. For us, democracy has come to mean rule by the majority that respects the rights of all individuals, including those who may be in the minority. We use the constitutions to provide protection against unrestrained majoritarianism." (Pg.5)
"The supremacy of Canada's constitutional laws is thus still grounded in the fact that they are statutes of our mother-parliament in Westminister. in order to give our constitutional order a more independent foundation, it was proposed that the federal Parliament and the ten provincial legislatures should each pass a resolution adopting Canada Act 1982. This, it was suggested, would make our constitution more like a Lockean social contract. The problem with this strategy, however, is that the government of Quebec, which has always opposed the agreement now embodied in Canada Act 1982, refused - and continues to refuse - to pass such a resolution. Nevertheless, the Act is valid in Quebec, as well as in the rest of Canada, because the British Parliament has declared it so." (Pg.27)
"In Canada, on the other hand, just the opposite is true. Almost from the beginning, Canadian political life has been dominated by quarrels over the nature of our federal arrangements. The point should be obvious if one considers for a minute only a few of the semi-permanent issues that plague our political agenda, all of which are problems of federalism: Quebec separatism, Western alienation, responsibility for funding health care and other services, regional economic development, and constitutional reform. Canada is probably the only country in the world where issues of federalism are the national political obsession. The "Quebec question" has always been, at bottom, a dispute over the division of jurisdiction between the government of Quebec and the federal government." (Pg.70)
"The power, rights, and privileges of the Canadian Crown are vested in the Queen or King of Canada. Our monarch is by law the same person who serves as the monarch of Britain, but it is important to note that this person is serving in two distinct positions. One might say that Elizabeth II wears a number of different crowns: a British crown, a Canadian crown, an Australian crown, and so on. She is a monarch with many dominions. The important point is that, with respect to Canada, she is the Queen of Canada." (Pg.99)
"In order to understand properly the role of Parliament in the Canadian regime, it is necessary to look at that institution in the light of the changes that have followed from the emergence of disciplined political parties. Though Parliament is sill a legislative body, and the House of Commons still has the power to make or break a government, the development of party discipline and the resulting transfer of parliamentary power to the cabinet have left Parliament with a new role. The primary purpose of the modern parliament is to make the cabinet accountable for its actions to the public. Parliament provides a forum in which opposition members can criticize the government, offer constructive alternatives, and perhaps even succeed in pressuring the government to make changes to a bill or even withdraw it. The opposition cannot prevent a cabinet with a parliamentary majority from doing as it pleases, since the party in power will be definition be able to outvote the parties in opposition. But effective criticism of a government's policy in a high-profile setting such as Parliament can be very damaging to the governing party's chances in the next elections. By allowing opposition members to scrutinize and criticize the cabinet's conduct or policy, then, Parliament plays an essential role in keeping the government sensitive to the concerns of the voters." (Pg.118)
"Many Canadian have a negative impression of Question Period because of the highly partisan and frequently hyperbolic character of the exchanges that take place during it. Yet, while there are good reasons to be critical of some of the excesses of Question Period, no other forum allows for such intense and powerful criticism of government policy; it is no coincidence that almost all the footage of parliamentary debate one sees on the television news is drawn from that source. For all its faults, then, Question Period is an essential device for allowing Parliament to perform its crucial role of keeping the government accountable to the public." (Pg.125)
"Another issue that emerges when we consider the matter of representation is the question of who can represent us. According to the microcosm theory of representation, legislative bodies are fully representative only if the assembly is a microcosm of society as a whole. For example, if 51 percent of the the population is female, then 51 percent of the representatives ought to be female. Similarly, if the population is composed of diverse ethnic groups, the assembly should reflect that diversity. The microcosm theory has always played some role in the Canadian regime. As we saw in Chapter 6, the prime minister expected to form a cabinet that reflects our country's diversity not only in geographic terms but also in terms of religion, ethnicity, language, and gender. The microcosm theory is also becoming increasingly influential in deciding who is to be selected to serve on the Supreme Court of Canada. " (Pg.162)
"The political parties in liberal democratic regimes are therefore best understood as attempts to serve both the ideal and the practical. They must steer a moderate middle course between the extremes of powerless idealism on the one hand and the cynically unprincipled pursuit of power on the other. There is no point in pursuing ideals that are attractive to only a very few voters. Conversely, the public will soon sour on the party or politician who is perceived to be without principles, often labeling them opportunistic and cynical. What we seem to want most are practical and pragmatic politicians who have political principles. In other words, we demand that our parties constantly manage the tension between theory and practice, between high political principle and workable public policy." (Pg. 180)
Some quotes I found interesting:
"It is undeniable that majority rule can, and too often does, involve unjust treatment of those in the minority. For instance, a majority of voters could elect a government that would forbid members of a non-white minority to own property. Such legislation would be democratic in that it expresses the will of the majority, but it would also be unjust. The fact that something is democratic does not necessarily mean that it is right. In contemporary terms, we would distinguish between a decent democratic regime and tyranny of the majority. For us, democracy has come to mean rule by the majority that respects the rights of all individuals, including those who may be in the minority. We use the constitutions to provide protection against unrestrained majoritarianism." (Pg.5)
"The supremacy of Canada's constitutional laws is thus still grounded in the fact that they are statutes of our mother-parliament in Westminister. in order to give our constitutional order a more independent foundation, it was proposed that the federal Parliament and the ten provincial legislatures should each pass a resolution adopting Canada Act 1982. This, it was suggested, would make our constitution more like a Lockean social contract. The problem with this strategy, however, is that the government of Quebec, which has always opposed the agreement now embodied in Canada Act 1982, refused - and continues to refuse - to pass such a resolution. Nevertheless, the Act is valid in Quebec, as well as in the rest of Canada, because the British Parliament has declared it so." (Pg.27)
"In Canada, on the other hand, just the opposite is true. Almost from the beginning, Canadian political life has been dominated by quarrels over the nature of our federal arrangements. The point should be obvious if one considers for a minute only a few of the semi-permanent issues that plague our political agenda, all of which are problems of federalism: Quebec separatism, Western alienation, responsibility for funding health care and other services, regional economic development, and constitutional reform. Canada is probably the only country in the world where issues of federalism are the national political obsession. The "Quebec question" has always been, at bottom, a dispute over the division of jurisdiction between the government of Quebec and the federal government." (Pg.70)
"The power, rights, and privileges of the Canadian Crown are vested in the Queen or King of Canada. Our monarch is by law the same person who serves as the monarch of Britain, but it is important to note that this person is serving in two distinct positions. One might say that Elizabeth II wears a number of different crowns: a British crown, a Canadian crown, an Australian crown, and so on. She is a monarch with many dominions. The important point is that, with respect to Canada, she is the Queen of Canada." (Pg.99)
"In order to understand properly the role of Parliament in the Canadian regime, it is necessary to look at that institution in the light of the changes that have followed from the emergence of disciplined political parties. Though Parliament is sill a legislative body, and the House of Commons still has the power to make or break a government, the development of party discipline and the resulting transfer of parliamentary power to the cabinet have left Parliament with a new role. The primary purpose of the modern parliament is to make the cabinet accountable for its actions to the public. Parliament provides a forum in which opposition members can criticize the government, offer constructive alternatives, and perhaps even succeed in pressuring the government to make changes to a bill or even withdraw it. The opposition cannot prevent a cabinet with a parliamentary majority from doing as it pleases, since the party in power will be definition be able to outvote the parties in opposition. But effective criticism of a government's policy in a high-profile setting such as Parliament can be very damaging to the governing party's chances in the next elections. By allowing opposition members to scrutinize and criticize the cabinet's conduct or policy, then, Parliament plays an essential role in keeping the government sensitive to the concerns of the voters." (Pg.118)
"Many Canadian have a negative impression of Question Period because of the highly partisan and frequently hyperbolic character of the exchanges that take place during it. Yet, while there are good reasons to be critical of some of the excesses of Question Period, no other forum allows for such intense and powerful criticism of government policy; it is no coincidence that almost all the footage of parliamentary debate one sees on the television news is drawn from that source. For all its faults, then, Question Period is an essential device for allowing Parliament to perform its crucial role of keeping the government accountable to the public." (Pg.125)
"Another issue that emerges when we consider the matter of representation is the question of who can represent us. According to the microcosm theory of representation, legislative bodies are fully representative only if the assembly is a microcosm of society as a whole. For example, if 51 percent of the the population is female, then 51 percent of the representatives ought to be female. Similarly, if the population is composed of diverse ethnic groups, the assembly should reflect that diversity. The microcosm theory has always played some role in the Canadian regime. As we saw in Chapter 6, the prime minister expected to form a cabinet that reflects our country's diversity not only in geographic terms but also in terms of religion, ethnicity, language, and gender. The microcosm theory is also becoming increasingly influential in deciding who is to be selected to serve on the Supreme Court of Canada. " (Pg.162)
"The political parties in liberal democratic regimes are therefore best understood as attempts to serve both the ideal and the practical. They must steer a moderate middle course between the extremes of powerless idealism on the one hand and the cynically unprincipled pursuit of power on the other. There is no point in pursuing ideals that are attractive to only a very few voters. Conversely, the public will soon sour on the party or politician who is perceived to be without principles, often labeling them opportunistic and cynical. What we seem to want most are practical and pragmatic politicians who have political principles. In other words, we demand that our parties constantly manage the tension between theory and practice, between high political principle and workable public policy." (Pg. 180)
February 10, 2018
Despite the fact it's a textbook, it's a wonderful look Canadian government. With frequent comparisons to the United States, it is helpful in understanding how Western democracies play off each other. Each has their own pros and cons to government.
August 18, 2017
Solid lay out of the systems the run Canadian government/politics.
April 5, 2020
The Canadian Regime is great entry point to Canadian politics. The authors outline who has power, the constitution that gives them that power, and the limitations and separations of power. The book efficiently organizes information into short chapters with the Canadian constitution located in the appendix. Appropriate examples are used to illustrate how the functions of government are put into practice. The authors successfully illustrate how Canada is a fusion of the Westminster/British and federalist American models of liberal democracy. The information is slightly dated, but I'm unsure if I have the most recent copy. This book is as much a textbook as a primer on the mechanics of Canadian government.
May 10, 2021
Pretty good introduction, easy to read. I think it should be taught in high school. Covers everything starting with the concept of a political regime, responsible government, federalism, the constitution, the judiciary, the charter of rights and freedoms, thr crown servants all the way to political parties, elections, parliament and public policy.
June 22, 2018
Good concise commentary on Canadian Politics, with some comparisons with American and British political systems. Many strengths and weaknesses highlighted and reiterated the importance of participating in civic duties
July 20, 2017
A great primer should you ever need to know about Canadian government.
March 30, 2018
For a textbook, this actually made for a very engaged reading experience!
February 28, 2019
Great overview of the whole government of Canada. Giving great justifications for why things are the way they are.
June 30, 2021
Concise and very readable. A great introduction.
November 4, 2022
despite being a textbook for my canadian government class i actually found it pretty engaging and interesting
February 9, 2023
Loved it; learned lots. Should be required reading for all Canadians.
August 10, 2017
Read this to prep for grad school. Despite being a textbook I kind of enjoyed it? And read it really quickly. Huh.
July 24, 2019
Though this was a textbook for one of m courses, it was probably one of my most favourite to read. The book thoroughly explains and examines the Canadian system/government. It is easy to read and understand for beginners in politics or those who know almost nothing about Canadian politics. The comparison to American and British politics was a nice touch as well.
July 21, 2016
An easy-to-understand book, that explains very much everything about somehow confusing Canadian political system. It shows that this system, like the British one, has been built based on constitutional convention.
April 9, 2014
A great overall look at every aspect of Canadian politics
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews