From coast to coast to coast, Forum participants emphasized that dialogue, cooperation, and a commitment to shared values are fundamental to Canada’s success.
In this report, we offer a vision of Canadian federalism that extends and refines the New Democratic Party’s founding principles of cooperative federalism and recognition for the Aboriginal and Québec Peoples. It is a progressive, proactive vision that responds to the realities of contemporary Canadian society, and reflects the aspirations and priorities of the social democrats who participated in our dialogue.
Responsive Federalism creates a climate of cooperation, mutual respect and collective responsibility. Co-decision will bring governments together to develop and maintain strong social programs with pan-Canadian standards, while allowing the flexibility to administer programs in a way that meets the needs of particular geographic, cultural and linguistic communities. Our framework contains measures that will hold all levels of government accountable and ensures that all Canadians achieve their social, economic and cultural rights. Responsive Federalism will help to bring about a Social Union truly capable of achieving social justice.
Responsive Federalism guarantees meaningful recognition to Aboriginal Peoples, by reaffirming the principle of self-government and including Aboriginal governments in the Social Union process.
Responsive Federalism guarantees meaningful recognition to the Québec People. Canadians should rejoice in our country’s singular existence as a dual immigrant society that converges around two public languages: English and French. We must find the best way to recognize this fundamental duality in the constitution, as well as the corresponding responsibility of Québec as the geographic centre of Canada’s French-speaking population.
Responsive Federalism would revitalize Canadian democracy through a series of democratic reforms. A system of proportional representation, the abolition of the existing undemocratic Senate, a Canadianized head of state, and a strong network of social movements all will contribute to a healthy democratic system that can act as a source of pride and confidence for all Canadians.
Responsive Federalism
Recommendation #1: Our goal is to build a Canada that recognizes and responds to the needs of its citizens - and acknowledges the many ways in which our country is diverse. Canadians need guarantees that their basic social, economic, environmental cultural and democratic rights will be protected and promoted by all levels of government.
Accordingly, the NDP advocates a new framework for Canada: Responsive Federalism, based on the principles of co-decision and the recognition of the Canadian diversity. Responsive Federalism is a framework which recognizes and responds to the geographic, cultural and linguistic diversity of the Canadian federation, including the unique situations of the Aboriginal and Québec Peoples, and by which governments work cooperatively to promote the social, cultural and economic well-being of all Canadians. Responsive Federalism includes the following elements:
- Affirming our Social and Economic Rights: A Social Union Based on the Principle of Co-decision
- Protecting our Charter of Rights and Freedoms for all Canadians
- Securing Justice for Aboriginal Peoples and First Nations
- Recognizing and Respecting the Québec People in a Meaningful Way
- Protecting French-Speaking Minorities
- Revitalizing Democracy
Affirming our Social and Economic Rights: A Social Union Based on the Principle of Co-decision
Recommendation #2: That the New Democratic Party advocates Social Union arrangements that would develop and maintain Canada-wide social policy by co-decision. A responsive Social Union would act as a covenant between governments and citizens. It would guarantee Canadians equal access to a wide range of quality social programs, recognize and respond to the diversity of our federation and its citizens, and ensure that we meet our obligations under international human rights agreements. Co-decision, a process by which governments work cooperatively to develop priorities for social policy and to set Canada-wide standards for social programs, would foster a sense of collective responsibility and cooperation.
A Social Union based on co-decision would operate according to the following principles:
Standards
- Federal, provincial and territorial governments would co-decide Canada-wide standards for programs where costs are shared.
- A Social Union based on co-decision would respond to the unique circumstances of each province and territory, as well as Aboriginal communities, by ensuring that provincial, territorial and Aboriginal governments have the responsibility for the specific design, implementation and administration of programs.
- The principle of asymmetry is an important part of a responsive Social Union. Québec, as the centre of Canada’s French-speaking society, has responsibilities and challenges unlike those facing other provinces and territories. Should Québec choose not to participate in the process of co-decision for a particular program, it should be able to opt out of the program with full compensation.
- Co-decided Canada-wide standards to social programs would be binding on all other governments, even if individual governments were to opt out of a Canada-wide program with compensation.
- Any attempt to incorporate Medicare, the standards of which are now underwritten exclusively by the federal spending power, into Social Union arrangements would have to be done in such a way as to leave no opportunity for a province to opt out of the current provisions of the Canada Health Act.
Funding
- The fiscal arrangements of a co-decided program could not be changed unilaterally.
- The principle of equalization is important to ensuring that quality social programs are accessible no matter where you live in Canada. Equalization payments must be maintained.
Inclusivity and Transparency
- Aboriginal governments must be formally and extensively involved in the process of co-decision.
- Extensive consultation and dialogue are a necessary part of determining priorities for social policy, creating new programs, and determining standards. Co-decision must be an open, inclusive and transparent process, and new policies or programs should be developed in consultation with groups affected by those policies and programs. Open debate by all levels of government and in all legislatures, and the meaningful participation of civil society are necessary steps toward building a responsive Social Union.
- In cases where a co-decided program involved the administrative transfer of responsibility from the federal government to the provinces and territories, minority language groups would have to be extensively involved to ensure that their constitutional rights are guaranteed in the new arrangements.
Accountability
- An independent Accountability Panel would be created under the Social Union to assess whether governments are fulfilling their obligations under Social Union agreements and whether the social rights of Canadians are being respected. This body would be composed in such a way as to reflect the geographic, cultural and linguistic diversity of the federation. The Accountability Panel would report annually to the Social Rights Commission.
An independent Social Rights Commission would be established to adjudicate disputes between governments concerning the integrity of Social Union agreements and claims brought by individual Canadians concerning a government’s fulfilment of its obligations to individual citizens under Social Union agreements.
Securing Justice for Aboriginal Peoples
Recommendation #3: That the federal NDP reaffirms its commitment to the inherent right of self-government for Aboriginal Peoples.
Recommendation #4: That the federal NDP shall establish a regular dialogue with organizations representing Aboriginal groups. In conjunction with the Aboriginal Caucus and organizations representing Aboriginal Peoples, the Party shall develop a strategy to help implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Recommendations on fiscal and economic issues, as well as recommendations on protecting aboriginal languages, should be major priorities. This strategy should include focused objectives and a timeline for achieving those objectives.
Recognizing and Respecting the Québec People in a Meaningful Way
Recommendation #5: That the NDP maintains its determination to find a meaningful constitutional recognition of Quebecers as a people. New Democrats embrace the fact that Québec is a diverse, multi-ethnic society, the centre of one of the two linguistic societies to which immigrants to Canada have come to belong. We must strive to find the best way to recognize this reality in the Constitution.
The NDP reasserts the principle that Québec must have the tools necessary to respond to its unique challenges as the centre of one of the two immigrant societies within Canada. This principle is reflected in the recognition that asymmetry is an important part of a responsive Social Union.
Protecting French-Speaking Minorities
Recommendation #6: That New Democrats continue to vigorously support the rights of French-speaking minorities outside of Québec to have access to the tools they need to preserve and develop their language and culture. New Democrats must assert that the principles of co-decision incorporate a recognition of these rights.
Revitalizing Democracy
Recommendation #7: That the New Democratic Party vigorously advocates the revitalization of Canadian democracy through the development and promotion of :
- a form of proportional representation that is appropriate for Canada - a system of proportional representation would contribute to Canadians' sense that the House of Commons belonged to them and would reduce regional frictions, resulting in a more dynamic and equitable democracy in Canada.
- the abolition of the existing undemocratic Senate - New Democrats maintain that the existing undemocatic Senate is unacceptable and must be abolished.
- strengthening the independent social movements - independent social movements protect and invigorate democracy in Canada. We must ensure that these groups are able to pursue their important role in building a better Canada.
- canadianizing the head of state -- Canada should begin to explore the possibility of canadianizing the head of state. However, this is not a priority for Canadians at this time. We advocate a cautious approach, one that involves, for example, keeping a close eye on Australia as that country undertakes its process of becoming a republic.
- a system of state-funded campaign financing, possibly modeled after the system currently being used in Quebec, must be implemented to curb that influence that business and the rich have over the democratic and electoral process.
These democratic reforms should provide for an array of democratic institutions that are responsive to particular traits of the Canadian reality. New Democrats look forward to a future where Canadians will have a greater sense of control over their lives because they have greater confidence in an enhanced Canadian democracy.
