Justin Trudeau’s election promise to legalize marijuana was motivated by strong public support, and was one of the most popular platform items on the Liberal Party’s election-time website. In policy terms, legalization has is supported by an interplay of public health, criminal justice, and social justice concerns dating back almost 50 years.

During the 2015 federal election campaign, l’Idée fédérale published a newsletter discussing the tasks awaiting the next Prime Minister on federalism. The present newsletter examines the state of these tasks.

Americans and Canadians have very different views about the “constitutional politics” of federalism. Both countries feature “constitutional federalism” regimes, where the federal principle is judicially enforced.

Cooperative Asymmetrical Federalism and the Canadian Struggle to Save the Climate. In the last decade, the provincial governments have played an essential role in developing policies for combating climate change, in particular by implementing carbon pricing mechanisms.

The election of Justin Trudeau’s Liberals in October 2015 has led to renewed debate about reforming the voting system used to elect members to the House of Commons.

As of 1970, with the birth of the Parti québécois and its success at the polls, Québec politics were shaped by a striking cleavage between those who were for Québec independence, and those who were against it.

Federalism has been almost completely absent from the current federal election campaign. Yet, the management of the Canadian federation is a crucial issue that has far-reaching consequences for Canadians.

In Canada, like virtually all federations, the responsibility for elementary and secondary education falls to the provinces. And, through gradual devolution over the past few decades, the territories have gained greater autonomy such that now they have power over education akin to the provinces.

The Smith Commission Report issued today promises a restructuring of the United Kingdom which may prove to be more significant than the devolution settlement of 1997-98 itself.

Dans quelques jours, soit le 18 septembre, nous connaitrons le sort de l’Écosse au sein du Royaume-Uni. Si jamais les indépendantistes l’emportent, un des principaux enjeux pour le gouvernement écossais sera celui de la monnaie.