The-Government-and-Politics-of-Canada-加拿大-政治概况

Unit16TheGovernmentandPoliticsofCanadaHistoricalBackgroundTwomajorforeigninfluences:BritainandtheUnitedStatesStrongprovincialgovernmentswerepersuadedtojoinintotheCanadian“confederation”underspecialfavors(e.g.BC)ProvincialGovernmentProvincialgovernmentoperatesonthesamemodelasthefederalgovernmentatalowerlevel.Leader:Premier省总理LegislativeAssembly立法议会DifferencesfromBritainandAmericaFreedomofspeechandfreedomofinformationaremuchmorevaluedincontemporaryCanadathaninBritainWell-beingandlibertyofindividualssacrificesforthegreatergoodofthecommunity:gunsSlogans:America:aspireto“life,libertyandthepursuitofhappiness”;Canada:foundanationbasedon“peace,orderandgoodgovernment”CentralconcernofCanadianpolicy-makers:findaworkablebalancebetweencommunityandindividualrightsReconcilethetwocommunitiesofEnglish-speakingCanadaandFrench-speakingCanadaMostCanadianpoliticsisaboutfindingaconstitutionalarrangementtosatisfythedemandsofQuebecandtherestofCanada.StructuresofGovernment“Westminster-style”democracy:parliamentarydemocracyMonarchy:officialheadofstateistheQueen;theQueenisCanada’squeeninherownright;representativeoftheQueenisaGovernorGeneral;ceremonialpowerFederationTenprovincesandthreeterritoriesjoinedtoformonecountry,eachwiththeirowngovernment.CanadawasthefirstpoliticalcommunitytocombinefederalismwithaBritishsystemofgovernment;laterappliedtootherareasintheBritishCommonwealth,notablyinAustralia,Malaysia,NigeriaandIndiaWhyBritishmodelispreferredtotheAmericanmodelChecksandbalancesStrength,orderandauthorityWeakVSStrongcentralgovernmentParliamentAlowerhouse:theHouseofCommons(300seats)(representativesarevotedbyeachelectoraldistrict)Anupperhouse:theSenate(notelected,recommendedbythePrimeMinister,appointedbytheGovernorGeneral)Electoraldistrictsarebasedonpopulationratherthangeographicsize,sotherearemoreMPsfromurbanareasandveryfewfromthesparselysettled,wilderregionsofCanada.AstheCanadianpopulationisconcentratedinOntarioandQuebec,thesetwoprovinceshavethemostseatsandthereforethemostpowerintheHouseofCommons.GovernmentThepartythatwinsthemostseatsformsthegovernment;theleaderbecomesPrimeMinster,themostimportantpersoninCanadiangovernmentTheCabinet,chosenbythePrimeMinster,consistsofseniorMPsfromthegoverningpartyTheFederalPoliticalSceneThetwobiggestpoliticalpartiesinCanadaaretheLiberalPartyandtheProgressiveConservatives(自由党和进步保守党)Neitherofthetwowerepopularthroughoutthewholecountry,andlackofrepresentationhasledtomanyfeelingsofresentmentandfrustrationinthedifferentregionsChangesRegionalpartiesthrivingandnationalpartiesfailingInthe1993federalelection,theProgressiveConservativePartywascompletelywipedoutandthePrimeMinsterlosthisseat,forbadmanagementoftheeconomy.TheBlocQuebecois:theofficialoppositionpartyinthe1993-1995government,acoalitionofMPsfromthemainlyFrench-speakingprovinceofQuebec,dedicatedtothetaskofwinningimportantconcessionsfromtherestofCanadaReformParty:arightwinggrassroots,wonenoughseatstobecomethecountry’sofficialoppositioninthe1997CanadianPrimeMinistersPierreTrudeau,servedfrom1968-1984,afrancophone['fræŋkəufəun]BrianMulroney,ledthegovernmentbetween1984and1993,fromEnglishspeakingcommunityinQuebecJeanChretien,borninQuebec,FrenchspeakingMajorconcern:bringEnglishandFrenchCanadacloser,dealingwithQuebecinitsdemandforspecialrecognitionPierreTrudeauIntroducedprogramstopromotetheuseofFrenchthroughoutCanada.IntroducedtheConstitutionAct,gaveCanadacompletelegalindependence.MulticulturalismBrianMulroneyIntroducedtheMeechLakeAccord,recognizeQuebecasa“distinctsociety”.Failed.SingedafreetradeagreementwiththeUnitedStates,bringingintobeingNAFTA(theNorthAmericanFreeTradeAgreement)JeanChretienLongpoliticalcareer,firstbecomeanMPin1963AcabinetMinisterandoneofTrudeau’smosttrustedcolleaguesthroughoutthe1970s,seenasthenaturalsuccessortoTrudeau’svisionofkeepingCanadatogether.MulticulturalismFirstproposedbyTrudeauin1971,announcedapolicyinwhichCanadaofficiallyaffirmeditsprideinandsupportthevariousethnic,racialandreligiousgroupsIn1982CanadianCharterofRightsandFreedoms,thefederalgovernmentpromisedtosupportanygroupswhichwantedtosustaintheirculturalidentity1988,MulticulturalismActfurtherstrengthenedandexplainedthispromise.SimilaritiesamongthethreeleadersSharedthevisionofastrong,unitedCanadaandhavepaidspecialattentiontotheculturaldiversityofthenationWorkhardtoovercometheregionalismofthecountry.AlleducatedaslawyerCanadaissaidtobeobsessedwithfederalismandwithlaw,andwithusingthelawtotrytocreateanationstateinwhichvariouscommunities,racesandreligionsarenotmerelytolerated,butrespected.