In Search of Canadian Political Culture - UBC Press

UBC Press
Federalism
Jennifer Smith
Advocacy Groups
Lisa Young and Joanna Everitt
In a world where federal
states seem to exist
precariously, politicians
and academics from
around the globe continue
to look to Canada as a
model of federalism.
And yet our own system
of organization and
governance also appears
strained. Federalism
explains how Canada
came to be a federation, what the challenges to
federalism currently are, and how we might fortify
some areas of weakness in the federal system.
Jennifer Smith argues that federalism is part of the
democratic problem now; however, reformed, it
can be part of the solution. She examines Canadian
federalism in relation to the benchmarks of the
Canadian Democratic Audit project: responsiveness,
inclusiveness, and participation. Finding that
Canadian federalism falls short on each benchmark,
she recommends changes ranging from virtual
regionalism to a Council of the Federation that
includes Aboriginal representatives.
Contents
1 Auditing Federalism in Canada
2 Federalism and Democracy
3 Canadian Federalism
4 Democratic Audit of Inclusiveness in the Federal System
5 Democratic Audit of Participation in the Federal System
6 Democratic Audit of Responsiveness in the Federal
System
7 The Democratic Audit and Change in the Federal System
8 The Need for Change
Discussion Questions
Additional Reading
Works Cited
Index
2004, 208 pages, 5½ x 8½”
0-7748-1060-2 / 978-0-7748-1060-9 cloth $75.00
0-7748-1061-1 / 978-0-7748-1061-0 paper $23.95
CANADIAN DEMOCRATIC AUDIT
This volume of the
Canadian Democratic
Audit examines advocacy
groups; looking at who
participates in these
groups, which kinds of
groups dominate the
political agenda, what
influence lobbying has
on the government, and
how to make advocacy
groups a more vibrant and
accountable part of political life in this country.
Young and Everitt argue that group activity
represents an important form of political
participation. Though some interests face greater
challenges than others, advocacy groups can
play critical roles for interests that are often
unrepresented in traditional political institutions.
The book offers several recommendations for “best
practices” that groups can follow in their internal
organization and efforts to influence public policy,
as well as for actions that governments can take to
engage in constructive consultation with groups.
Contents
1 Advocacy Groups and Canadian Democracy
2 Perspectives on Advocacy Groups and Democracy
3 Who Participates in Advocacy Groups?
4 The Internal Life of Groups
5 Which Interests and Identities Are Mobilized?
6 Talking to Governments
7 Advocacy Group Involvement in Elections, Litigation, and
Protests
8 Who Prevails?
9 Enhancing the Democratic Role of Advocacy Groups
Discussion Questions
Additional Reading
Works Cited
Index
2004, 188 pages, 5½ x 8½”
0-7748-1110-2 / 978-0-7748-1110-1 cloth $75.00
0-7748-1111-0 / 978-0-7748-1111-8 paper $23.95
CANADIAN DEMOCRATIC AUDIT
www.ubcpress.ca / 1 877 864 8477 39