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Executive Federalism

Executive Federalism. Doug Brown Pols 321 StFX/ 2012. Executive Federalism . Response to interdependence in federal system Executive dominance comes from “Westminster” form of government Bigger role in Canada due to poor degree of regional representation in central institutions

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Executive Federalism

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  1. Executive Federalism Doug Brown Pols 321 StFX/ 2012

  2. Executive Federalism • Response to interdependence in federal system • Executive dominance comes from “Westminster” form of government • Bigger role in Canada due to poor degree of regional representation in central institutions • Growing importance over time

  3. Why intergovernmental relations? • Inadequate or uncertain division of powers • Government interdependence • welfare state • globalization • Fiscal efficiency and equity • Regional representation

  4. Changing role of Executive Federalism • Early inter-provincial conferences • Dominion-Provincial conferences • Post war fiscal federalism • Growth of functional ministerial conferences • First Ministers and their increasing role of regional representation • Reaching Limits: Constitutional Reform

  5. Where Executive Federalism Happens • First Ministers Meetings • Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministerial Councils • Seniors officials meetings • Regional meetings of Premiers, etc. • Informal interaction: • Correspondence, emails, phone calls, bilateral meetings

  6. Intergovernmental norms • Interdependence, not domination • Negotiation and discussion, not voting • Therefore: Diplomacy and Bargaining are the norm • Realist power politics (the strong win most often), but tempered by the constitutional equality of the provinces, and by the power of all the provinces vs. the feds.

  7. Intergovernmental interests • “There are no permanent alliances, only permanent interests” (Lord Palmerston) • Provincial and territorial interests defined by geography, society, economy –but also by politics • Federal government alone does not define the “national interest” • Federal position = more than the sum of the parts?

  8. Issues with Executive Federalism • Low level of institutional structure: no votes, no constitutional status • Few incentives to agree: a competitive political culture • Democratic deficits: • Poor accountability to legislatures • Limited nature of representation -- “white men in suits” • Secretive, bureaucratic, overly technical

  9. Overall Spectrum of Canadian IGR • Independent governments (minimal relations) • Consultation (no binding results) • Coordination (meshing goals and strategies) • Collaborative (jointly determined outcomes) • Joint decision-making (cannot act alone) • Asymmetrical (opting out, opting in)

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