Chretien and Canadian Federalism: Politics and the Constitution: 1993-2003

By Edward McWhinney

Drawing on his experience as a two-term MP and former Parliamentary Secretary, Ted McWhinney addresses the need for modernization to meet the radically new demands of the plural, multicultural Canada of the 21st century and offers new ways out of our present constitutional straight-jacket. Among the key contemporary topics discussed are the atrophy of the House of Commons and the role of MPs; the development of the "presidential" Prime Minister without any constitutional checks and balances; the emergence of judicial legislation through a Supreme Court suddenly empowered by the 1982 Charter of Rights; the provincial demands for a new cooperative federalism; and the aboriginal peoples' claims to an inherent right to self government. Proposals for reform are canvassed frankly. More importantly, practical ways out of our present constitutional straight-jacket, the result of the failure of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords, are put forward for debate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ronsdale Press
• Release date: Aug 16, 2003
• ISBN: 9781553802969

Edward McWhinney

Edward (Ted) McWhinney, one of the foremost experts on the Canadian constitution, is often called upon to advise the Canadian government. McWhinney has held professorships at Yale, the Sorbonne, Toronto, McGill, Indiana and Simon Fraser University. The author of many books, he travels frequently to give advice to the United Nations and foreign states. Throughout the 1990s he served two full terms as Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary. He continues his work as legal counsel, governmental adviser and writer from his home base in Vancouver.