The Oxford Handbook of Canadian Politics

Canada officially achieved legislative autonomy in 1931 and has since developed into one of the world's most prosperous democracies. Though its political system is widely commended for its stability and fairness, it is nonetheless extremely complex. Particularly within the past five decades, Canada has undergone a vast social and political revolution, as exhibited by events such as the Quiet Revolution in Quebec, the ratification of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Medical Care Act of 1966 and the official adoption of bilingualism and multiculturalism. As the world moves towards globalization, technology has likewise facilitated communication between previously isolated provinces and territories within Canada. Such developments hold significant implications for the role of Canadian politics, both domestically and internationally.

The Oxford Handbook of Canadian Politics provides a comprehensive overview of the transformation that has occurred in Canadian politics since the country acheived autonomy, examining the institutions and processes of Canadian government and politics at the local, provincial and federal levels. It analyzes all aspects of the Canadian political system: the courts, elections, political parties, Parliament, the constitution, fiscal and political federalism, the diffusion of policies between regions, and various aspects of public policy. The Handbook examines recent trends such as the movement towards minority Parliaments and extrapolates potential developments.

This handbook represents the work of a distinguished array of contributors, including some of the world's most prominent scholars of political science. This volume renders an objective, authoritative portrait of the Canadian political system: it is indispensable to anyone interested in the topic.

John Courtney is Professor of Political Science at the University of Saskatchewan.
David Smith is Professor of Political Science at the University of Regina.
Both are past presidents of the Canadian Political Science Association.

About the Contributors
Preface
1. Transformation of an Unnatural Country, John C. Courtney and David E. Smith
Part I: The Constitutional Order
2. Constitution, Peter H. Russell
3. Courts, James B. Kelly and Christopher P. Manfredi
4. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Janet L. Hiebert
Part II: Canadian Federalism
5. Canada: A Double Federation, David E. Smith
6. Qu?bec, Alain No?l
7. Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations: Workhorse of the Federation, Harvey Lazar
8. Local Government, Andrew Sancton
Part III: Governing Institutions
9. Parliament and Legislatures: Central to Canadian Democracy?, Paul G. Thomas
10. First Ministers, Cabinet, and the Public Service, Donald J. Savoie
Part IV: Political Processes
11. Political Parties and the Practice of Brokerage Politics, R. Kenneth Carty and William Cross
12. Political Parties and the Electoral System, Richard Johnston
13. Challenge and Change: Elections and Voting, Elisabeth Gidengil
14. The Deliberative and Adversarial Attitudes of Interest Groups, ?ric Montpetit
15. Public Opinion and Public Policy, Stuart Soroka and Christopher Wlezien
16. Politics and the Media: Culture, Technology, and Regulation, Jonathan Rose and Paul Nesbitt-Larking
Part V: Canadian Society
17. Ethnic, Linguistic, and Multicultural Diversity of Canada, Will Kymlicka
18. Women in Canadian Politics, Brenda O`Neill and Lisa Young
19. Beyond the 'Indian Problem': Aboriginal Peoples and The Transformation of Canada, David Newhouse and Yale Belanger
Part VI: Canada in the World
20. Canada and the World: Beyond Middle Power, Jennifer M. Welsh
21. Canada-United States Relations, Stephen Brooks
22. Trade, Globalization, and Canadian Prosperity, Michael Hart
Part VII: Major Issues of the Twenty-first Century
23. Continuities and Change in the Design of Canada's Social Architecture, Jane Jenson
24. Health Care, Gregory P. Marchildon
25. Science and Technology: Politicians and the Public, Grace Skogstad
26. Canadian Environmental Politics and Policy, Michael Howlett and Sima Joshi-Koop
27. Defence and Security, Elinor Sloan
28. Democratic Reform: The Search for Guiding Principles, F. Leslie Seidle
Index
List of Tables and Figures