Assessing Canadian Federalism

In a time of growing political, social, and economic challenges, the health of a federation depends on its ability to balance unity with diversity—respecting regional autonomy while fostering common allegiances and objectives. Assessing Canadian Federalism revisits the founding principles of Canada's constitutional design to evaluate how effectively the federation continues to meet this dual mandate today.Drawing on the original ethos of Canada's union—self-rule for its constituent units alongside the legitimacy of common national institutions—the book introduces a three-part test to assess the performance of the Canadian federal system. It asks whether federal institutions are addressing contemporary realities, whether they transform tensions between unity and diversity into constructive outcomes, and whether the balance between shared and self-rule produces stable and fair outcomes. Through five compelling case studies including constitutional conflicts, Indigenous-state relations, Quebec's identity politics, Senate reform and Western alienation, and the Supreme Court's evolving role, the book applies this test to reveal both the strengths and vulnerabilities of Canada's federal framework. The results of political scientist Kathy L. Brock's investigation here offer fresh insight into the resilience, adaptability, and future of the Canadian federation in an increasingly volatile global environment.