Canada's representative democracy is confronting important challenges. At the top of the list is the growing inability of the national government to perform its most important roles: namely mapping out collective actions that resonate in all regions as well as enforcing these measures. Others include Parliament's failure to carry out important responsibilities, an activist judiciary, incessant calls for greater transparency, the media's rapidly changing role, and a federal government bureaucracy that has lost both its way and its standing.

Arguing that Canadians must reconsider the origins of their country in order to understand why change is difficult and why they continue to embrace regional identities, Democracy in Canada explains how Canada's national institutions were shaped by British historical experiences, and why there was little effort to bring Canadian realities into the mix. As a result, the scope and size of government and Canadian federalism have taken on new forms largely outside the Constitution. Parliament and now even Cabinet have been pushed aside so that policy makers can design and manage the modern state. This also accounts for the average citizen's belief that national institutions cater to economic elites, to these institutions' own members, and to interest groups at citizens' own expense.

A masterwork analysis, Democracy in Canada investigates the forces shaping the workings of Canadian federalism and the country's national political and bureaucratic institutions.

A detailed analysis of the failures and the future of Canada's representative democracy.

About the Author
Donald J. Savoie is the Canada Research Chair in public administration and governance at the Universite de Moncton and the author of numerous books including What Is Government Good At? A Canadian Answer and Whatever Happened to the Music Teacher? How Government Decides and Why.

Reviews

"[Democracy in Canada] provides a deep dive into Canadian federalism, regionalism, and the issue of centralized power." *Prairie History *

"Savoie's work reminds us of what we likely should expect from our national institutions, namely full representation, accountability and equality. Given the threats posed by nascent separatist movements in Western Canada, let's hope Canadians read this book, take its expert opinion seriously and begin pressuring politicians to act." Alberta Views

Book Information
ISBN 9780228006664
Author Donald J. Savoie
Format Paperback
Page Count 504
Imprint McGill-Queen's University Press
Publisher McGill-Queen's University Press