CANADA: THREE DECADES OF PERIODIC FEDERAL CRISES

In: Études internationales: revue trimestrielle, Band 27, Heft 3, S. 353-371

Abstract

DURING THE PAST THREE DECADES CANADA HAS EXPERIENCED FOUR PERIODS OF MAJOR CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS, EACH OF WHICH HAS INVOLVED INTENSE AND CONTENTIOUS DELIBERATIONS AND DEBATE OVER RESTRUCTURING THE FEDERATION. THESE RESULTED IN ONLY PARTIAL SUCCESS IN 1982 AND TOTAL FAILURE IN THE OTHERS. IN MOST CASES THE PERIODS OF CRISIS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED BY PERIODS OF EXHAUSTED QUIESCENCE BEFORE THE FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS OF THE FEDERATION HAVE LED ONCE MORE TO ANOTHER EFFORT TO ACHIEVE COMPREHENSIVE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE. THE EXPLANATION OF THESE REPEATED CRISES CANNOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO ONE SINGLE FACTOR BUT RATHER TO A NUMBER OF ACTORS SIMULTANEOUSLY REINFORCING EACH OTHER, AND TO THE DIFFICULTIES OF ATTEMPTING COMPREHENSIVE RATHER THAN INCREMENTAL CONSTITUTIONAL RESTRUCTURING WHERE SO MANY VARIED INTEREST HAVE TO BE RECONCILED AT THE SAME TIME IN A PROCESS INVOLVING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.