confederation of tomorrow

Key findings are: Overall support for the equalization program in Canada remains steady; Support has increased in Alberta since 2019; Support remains steady in non-recipient provinces, but has fallen by 8 points since 2019 in recipient provinces. A 29-point gap between levels of support in Quebec and Alberta has narrowed to a 6-point gap.

In Alberta, the level of discontent with the federation remains high, but has been declining gradually since 2019. This overall change, however, masks two distinct trends. On the one hand, those who support the provincial government continue to express high levels of dissatisfaction with federalism.

After the optimism of the country’s centenary in 1967, one set of scholars published a group of essays entitled Must Canada Fail? In a similar fashion, the adoption of a new, made-in-Canada Constitution in 1982 was met with another classic academic volume: And No One Cheered.

Plus de 25 ans après le référendum de 1995 sur la souveraineté et à la veille du 40e anniversaire du rapatriement de la Constitution, il peut être facile d’oublier que, du début des années 1960 à la fin des années 1990, débattre des lois fondamentales au Canada était presque devenu un sport national.

Did the federal, provincial and territorial responses to the crisis alleviate or exacerbate public discontent with how federalism works in Canada?

The mid-point of each calendar year offers an ideal opportunity for Canadians to reflect on issues related to national identity.

Cette année, les Canadiens ont dû admettre plusieurs vérités dérangeantes. Nous n’avons pas su prendre soin de nos aînés durant la pandémie. Les Canadiens noirs ont raison de se méfier de la police.

In the early months of 2020, prior to the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, news headlines in the country were focused on the protests taking place over issues relating to Indigenous Peoples’ rights and control over national resource development.

Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change had emerged as one of Canadians’ top concerns. The situation a year later is completely different: naturally, the pandemic now eclipses all other issues as the one Canadians see as most important.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented governments in Canada with enormous challenges. While the current priority remains stemming the spread of the virus and accelerating the pace of vaccinations, governments are also looking ahead to the measures needed to shape an economic recovery.