Regional resource disparities and the tensions they generate are a perennial Canadian topic. This edition of Canada: The State of the Federation presents essays on regions, resources, and the resiliency of the Canadian federal system. Contributors consider questions such as: to what extent do Canada s natural resource industries benefit the Canadian economy? Do Canada s federal institutions hinder or promote the ability of the economy to respond to global economic shifts? Do current intergovernmental structures allow for constructive dialogue about national policy issues? In responding to...

Thomas Courchene is the author or editor of numerous books and has published hundreds of academic papers on a wide range of Canadian public policy issues. Thinking Outside the Box honours his outstanding contributions to Canadian public policy thinking and practice. Research papers included in the volume span several of the key areas in which Courchene has made significant contributions, including federalism, macro-economic policy, the unique constitutional challenges that pose difficulties for policy in Canada, and economic well-being. An introduction by Gilles Paquet reflects on Courchene s...

In this edition of Canada: State of the Federation, contributors consider whether and to what degree the relationship between the central government and the provincial and territorial governments has changed in the past decade. The authors address three overarching questions. First, is the power base changing in Canada? If so, how are governments responding? Second, what are the implications of the changing environment for the relationships between governments? And third, are there underlying forces such as economic or technological change, or demands for citizen engagement that are pushing...