PO263 Lecture 4: PO263 Lecture #4 Notes- Federalism
Document Summary
This outlines a system divided between federal/national & state/provincial based gov"t. In theory, neither gov"t is subordinate to the other. Pre-confederation: the bna was 6 colonies, 2 territories & a charter territory (rupert"s land). Post-confederation: 1867, dominion of canada is created by uniting former colonies. East becomes quebec, west becomes ontario, new brunswick & nova scotia. Subjects of this land were to be british & canadian. The judicial committee of privy council (jcpc), being britain"s highest court, would also be highest court of canada. Why unite the colonies: political deadlock of upper/east/protestant & lower/west/catholic canada. Durham proposing uniting all canada to assimilate french into english lifestyle. A double majority had to be held btwn english & french. This brough deadlock: desire to assimilate french. French defeated and it proves difficult to incorporate quebecers into english group. Britain compromises by guaranteeing french rights: fear of american annexation. Without union, america might have come to cease lands: commercial & economic interest.
