Some Questions Federalism

[ozzyGrl]

Im doing a bit of research on Canadian government. It has some similarities but is also different from australian government. I had some question on Federalism in Canada i was wondering about.

-Why is Jurisdiction divided in Canada?

-How are political areas divided/shared between municipal, provincial, and federal governments?

-How does federalism affect public policy-making?

-What happens when Jurisdictional disputes occur in a federal system?

-What is the relationship between federalism and democracy?

[cybercoma]

If I do your homework for you, what's in it for me?

[jbg]

Im doing a bit of research on Canadian government. It has some similarities but is also different from australian government. I had some question on Federalism in Canada i was wondering about.

I am an American who similarly knows nothing about Canada, but I'll try to help:

-Why is Jurisdiction divided in Canada?

North America was divided into separate colonies. 13 of them (the better 13) seceded to form the United States of America. The remainder, who didn't want to risk largely experimental and initially chaotic self-government, and also one province, Lower Canada, which spoke French, decided to remain with the Crown. When Britain, sick and tired of subsidizing colonies that wanted to trade with the seceding parts of the US in the Civil War and didn't want to ante up for defense, cast them out on their own, she folded them into a purportedly united "Canada" (the unity didn't last long) but the separation between the former colonies (now called provinces) remained.

-How are political areas divided/shared between municipal, provincial, and federal governments?

In general, health care, education and resources are provincially controlled. The Feds control defense, interprovincial and international transportation, and interprovincial and international waterways. Native policy is a federal concern, as, in general, is criminal law.

-How does federalism affect public policy-making?

In theory, the provinces are far more powerful than US States. The rub lies in the fact that provinces without much in the way of resources rely on the Feds for additional funds. When someone funds something, they usually say how the money is used. That's where the fun begins. The fun ends when provinces that contribute more in funds (the so-called "have provinces") have little to say about how the money is used by the receiving provinces (the "have-not" provinces). A particular "have-not" province basically outlaws the use of the English language, and wonders why no one wants to conduct business there.

-What happens when Jurisdictional disputes occur in a federal system?

The golden rule - "He who has the gold makes the rules".

-What is the relationship between federalism and democracy?

The result winds up being tyranny of the majority. Ask Albertans how they feel about the "NEP".

Again, I have done my best. Some of my answers are tongue-in-cheek, and some reflect my almost total ignorance of Canada.

You would know this, is Canada south of the State of Tasmania?