The Canadian Regime

Eric P. Mintz is an associate professor of political science at Sir
Wilfred Grenfell College, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

In this introductory textbook, Professors Malcolmson and Myers of St.
Thomas University examine the Canadian constitution and the governing
institutions in terms of the principles of liberal representative
democracy. They believe that the Canadian governing system is based on
logical and coherent principles, and that understanding those principles
should help to solidify resistance to pressures for an Americanization
of our system.

Although well written and tightly focused, this introduction to the
workings of Canada’s government is marred by a number of flaws and
omissions that could lead to misunderstandings on the part of readers
who are unfamiliar with Canadian politics. For example, the response of
Quebecers to the defeat of the Meech Lake accord is not mentioned. The
characterization of the years 1914 to 1960 as a period of “emergency
federalism” ignores the return to “classical federalism” that
occurred in the 1920s and 1930s. The discontent of British Columbia and
Alberta is not simply a matter of wanting greater decentralization
(moreover, the parallel drawn between their discontent and Quebec
nationalism is a dubious one). Finally, the cabinet committee system of
the Chrétien government does not contain a “super-committee.”