List the contextual influences on public policy
-Political culture
-The constitution and federalism
-External influences like the noisy neighbours and globalization
-Indigenous Issues
Note: they are other factors that influence policy
What is political culture
- They dominant and relatively durable beliefs and values concerning political life that characterize a society
- They are broad ideas shared by a vast majority of society.
How many political culture is in Canada
- Those who say one, argue Canada tradition is said to be counterrevolutionary, in contrast to the revolutionary tradition of the US
- Those who say two, cultures associate these cultures with the two dominant language communities, French (pre-liberal) and English (liberal)
- Those who say Canada comprises of 10 different culture argue that demographics and economic characteristics have created distinct regional political culture.
What is the dominant political culture in Canada
Two political cultures
What are the implications of public policy on Canadian political culture broadly
It narrows the range of feasible policy option
Implications of “Two cultures” dominance among elite on public policy
- It elevates Quebec in political discussions.
- Generates resentments in western Canada
- It downplays the uniqueness of Indigenous culture
What is the Constitution in Constitutional act 1982
It is the supreme law of Canada, and any law that is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution is, to the extent of the inconsistency, of no force or effect.
What is the Constitution in Constitutional act 1867
- It created “dominion of Canada”
- Much of its principles related to the UK’s constitution. It meant the constitution included constitutional conventions and ensure responsible government.
- It also included principles related to the US constitution like the division of power (federalism), although the constitution was suppose to ensure centralization of power.
What event allowed Canada federalism become decentralized
- The JCPC became the last court of appeal. This narrowed the jurisdiction of the federal government and broadened the jurisdiction of the provincial government.
- A change in the society ie the population is increased, economies expanded and history lengthened.
What constitution act introduced the charter of rights and freedom
Constitution act 1982.
- It listed the rights, which were subject to limits
- Permitted the judiciary to strike down legislations against those rights
- It had judicial impacts on various policies.
What are the implication of Constitution on public policy
- It concentrates power on the cabinet.
- The charter allows the involvement of the judiciary in policy making.
What are the implication of Federalism on public policy
- Provides the provincial government power to enact policies
- It strengthens the PM and the premiers and allows collaboration
Influence of US on Canada’s public policy
- Trade
- Investment: Canada economy is owned by foreigners
- Capital Markets: Canadian companies and government often borrow money from investors
- Treaties: Ties in trade, investment and borrowing created treaties between US and Canada.
- Military: The economic reliance on US rule out the possibility of military alignment. “Canada is not Sweden”
- Media in the US come to dominate in Canada
Influence of globalization on Canada’s public policy
- It increases the ease of movement of goods and services, money, people, technologies, idea.
- Increases importance of multinational / international organization
- International norms affect policymaking
- Chief effect in Canada: Greater integration with the USA.
What are the implications of external factors on public policy
- It allows policies to be driven by American politics/policies
- It allows policies to be driven by international norms/agreements/organizations
- Reduced state capacity
How those the indigenous people influence public policy
- Reconciliation (2015) plays a major role in policy
- Their growing and young demographic
- They are contextual factor that affects all policy, they have wide ranging implication.
Does language influence public policy
Yes it does infact it is a policy field.
Explain the Official Language Act
- A federal policy passed in 1969, it has been updated
- Recognizes English and French as the official languages and all other languages have lesser status.
- It doesn’t mean everyone as to be bilingual
- Passed by the federal government
Explain Bill 101
- Passed by a provincial government (Quebec) in 1977 and since been updated.
- Expansion of the Official language act
- Makes French the official language in Quebec
- Everything became written French
Elements of the proposed update on the official language act
- Called Bill C-32 (it died)
- Substantive equality between English and French
- Supreme Court judges become officially bilingual
- Allow QC Bill 101-like rules to apply to federal private businesses in QC and non-QC regions with strong francophone presence’ (RSFP)
Elements of the updates on Bill 101
- Called Bill 96, currently at the first reading stage.
- It builds on bill 101 as it protects French language
- Amend the constitution by allowing Quebec become a nation and ensure French is the only language in QB.
- Others
