Canada must tackle serious political challenges that affect unity
Indigenous Peoples, Quebec and poverty must be addressed,
During the Canada 150 celebrations, the nation’s long record of political success was frequently noted. Confederation had produced a stable nation with a durable constitutional arrangement built around recognizing distinct historic communities. A general national identity of political tolerance grew out of this early accommodation of diversity. Canada’s federal structure created sensible limits on national and provincial governments and this political arrangement had been prudently nurtured through judicial interpretation of the Constitution and the process of federal-provincial relations.
By sticking to the rule of law and the separation of powers, Canada had been effective in keeping the exercises of governmental powers lawful and just. Placing constitutional limits on governments in 1982 had protected basic liberties, minority rights, due process and equality. This helped build an identity based on the values of the good state — accepting pluralism and honouring the principles of liberal democracy.
While there were reminders that Canadian history includes any number of episodes of damaging disrespect for, especially, immigrants, Indigenous peoples and minorities, the political reputation we celebrated was a nation that is effective, accommodating, moderate and just.
This spirit of pride on the 150th anniversary is not misplaced, but Canada is now facing serious political challenges and neither the nation’s basic political structure nor its record of political accommodation are guarantees of Canada’s future positive identity.
Some of Canada’s challenges will require constitutional adjustments. First, Indigenous peoples have yet to occupy an independent space in Canada’s formal governance structures. The history of displacement, breach of covenants, attempted cultural eradication and the destruction of traditional authorities require new constitutional arrangements based on deep autonomy and supported by adequate resources.
Second, Quebec recently gave notice that its cultural uniqueness and the 1982 constitutional process’s implicit breach of its status as a founding nation require stronger recognition of its right to constitutional distinctiveness.
Third, the challenges of entrenched poverty and unemployability, the deepening concern over climate risks and the soaring costs of treating mental and physical illness all suggest that current arrangements for the exercise of national and provincial powers need to be revised.
But constitutional reform has, for some time, not been a priority and is now being overshadowed by stronger demands based on social identity — ethnicity, religion, urban and rural residence, disparities of education and social condition. New social divisions are creating a new language of politics. These tensions will not be answered by national redesign alone. They pull politics away from issues of the political structure and into the question of how the state can overcome exclusion — and, at worst, toward a political culture of self-interest under which constitutional reform becomes impossible.
Political engagement with social tensions cannot be avoided. They generate their own strong political movements that may quickly erase the political culture of tolerance for diversity. Resentment over poor social fates leads to bitterness and hostility and, ultimately, to the loss of trust in the values that have shaped the nation.
A turn from confidence in political structures to growing social anger and disdain for government has become a problem for many liberal democratic nations and those nations’ commitments to the just state, to fair and competitive economies, and to people’s well-being are being rejected. When there is a sense that governments are ignoring disruptions of economic mobility, the dislocations of the demand for high employment skills, or social brokenness, then loss of trust in public life will erode the faith in a just and stable nation.
A combination of the failure to meet the constitutional challenges facing Canada and a weakening belief in governmental interest in maintaining a fair social environment would leave Canada’s reputation for political success in tatters. State activism on both fronts is clearly called for. Failure to meet either of these needs will reverse Canada’s positive, and hard-won, political reputation.