POLI 101

Professor Carey Doberstein, PhD

Lectures: Tues and Thurs, 2:00pm-3:20pm
Location: Buchanan A101
Office Hours: Tues and Thurs 1:30pm-2:00pm, 3:30pm-4:00pm, or by appt
Office Location: Buch C417
TA: Maya Buchanan: maya.buchanan@ubc.ca

a. Lecture participation (Due: ongoing) 10%

b. Essential takeaway exercises (Due: weekly by Sun) 10%
c. Tutorial participation (Due: weekly) 10%
d. Midterm Exam #1 (Feb 6) 15%
e. Midterm Exam #2 (March 12) 20%
f. Final exam (Date TBD by university) 35%

Go through specific reading of each class posted on syllabus. See downloads for the book.

Take-way exercises due every Sunday

Jan 9: Introduction and course overview

No readings assigned

Jan 11: The three pillars of Canadian democracy

Core concepts: parliamentary government; federalism; Charter of Rights
Textbook: pgs. 3-15 (sections 1.1-1.5)
Textbook: pgs. 25-39 (sections 2.3-2.7)

Jan 16: The basics of parliamentary government

Core concepts: responsible government; political parties; bicameralism
Textbook: pgs. 43-56 (sections 3.1-3.5)
Textbook: pgs. 73-82 (section 4.4-4.7)
Textbook: pgs. 87-95 (sections 5.1-5.3)

Jan 18: The basics of federalism in Canada

Core concepts: division of powers; executive federalism; phases of federalism
Textbook: pgs. 164-180 (sections 8.1-8.7)
Online reading: Robert Schertzer, 2016. “The promise and perils of collaborative
federalism”, Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/december-2016/the-promise-and-perils-of-
collaborative-federalism/

Jan 23: The basics of the Charter and judiciary

Core concepts: liberal rights; judicialization of politics; venue shopping
Textbook: pgs. 188-205 (sections 9.1-5.8)
Textbook: pgs. 207-216 (sections 10.1-10.2)
Textbook: pgs. 226-227 (section 10.6)
Jan 25: Three core political dynamics in CDN politics
Core concepts: regionalism; pluralism; liberalism(s)
Textbook: pgs. 8-11 (section 1.3)
Textbook: pgs. 139-152 (sections 7.3-7.5)
Online reading: Andrew Parkin, 2019. “Canadians confident we can resolve regional
differences”, Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/april-2019/canadians-confident-we-can-
resolve-regional-differences/
Online reading: Micheline Labelle, 2005. “The challenge of diversity in Canada and
Quebec”, Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/policy-optionsat-25/the-challenge-of-
diversity-in-canada-and-quebec/(translated from French, so please overlook occasional
strange phrasing)
ISSUES IN CANADIAN POLITICS, from those that touch a single
pillar, to two, and then all three

Jan 30: The coup that never happened

(single pillar: PARL)
Core concepts: confidence; constitutional conventions; GG-Crown reserve powers
Textbook: pgs. 67-73 (sections 4.1-4.3)
Online reading: Millard and Wright, 2010. “The people’s governor general? Restoring
the balance between the PM and the House”, Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/g8g20/the-peoples-governor-general-
restoring-the-balance-between-the-prime-minister-and-the-house/

Feb 1: “Gimme me Gimme me More”, written and performed by

Quebec
(single pillar: FED)
Core concepts: division of powers; asymmetric federalism; identity politics
Textbook: pg. 184-187 (section 8.9)
Online reading: Cloutier and Montigny, 2019. “As the push for provincial autonomy
spreads, where will it lead?”, Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/october-2019/as-the-push-for-provincial-
autonomy-spreads-where-will-it-lead/

Feb 6: Midterm exam #1

Feb 8: Campaigning for the criminal vote

(single pillar: CHAR)
Core concepts: democratic rights; judicial review; dialogue thesis
Online reading (CANVAS, under Files): Ian Greene, 2014 in “The Charter of Rights
and Freedoms: 30+ years of decisions that shape Canadian Life”. Lorimer and Company
Ltd: Toronto. pgs. 174-182.

Feb 13: “2015 will be the last election under FPTP” – kisses, JT
(two pillars: PARL + FED)
Core concepts: FPTP; composition of House; laboratories of democracy
Textbook: pgs. 115-133 (sections 6.3-6.9)
Online reading: Joseph Heath, 2016. “Electoral reform and the illusion of majority
rule”, Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/june-2016/electoral-reform-and-the-
illusion-of-majority-rule/

Feb 15: Whatever you do, don’t bring beer across provincial
borders
(two pillars: FED + CHAR)
Core concepts: purposes of confederation; provincial autonomy; judicial review
Textbook: pg 180-184 (section 8.8)
Online reading: Emmett Macfarlane, 2018. “In its ‘free-the-beer’ ruling, the Supreme
Court reveals its contradictions”, Macleans Magazine.
Link: https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/in-its-free-the-beer-ruling-the-supreme-court-
reveals-its-contradictions/

~~Reading week February 19-23~~

Feb 27: #WEXIT

(two pillars: PARL + FED)
Core concepts: regionalism; electoral system; Senate
Online reading: Eugene Lang, 2019. “The Trudeaus and western alienation”, Policy
Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/november-2019/the-trudeaus-and-western-
alienation/
Online reading: Tyler Dawson, 2019. “The rise of western alienation...again”, National
Post.

Feb 29: The Haves and the Have Nots

(two pillars: PARL + FED)
Core concepts: social union; fiscal federalism; redistribution
Online reading: Beland et al., 2019. “The challenge for Canada’s equalization program”,
Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/july-2018/challenge-canadas-equalization-
program/

Mar 5: Attawapiskat: Boiling water for 25 years

(two pillars: PARL + FED)
Core concepts: Indian Act; Idle No More; self-government
Online reading: Pam Palmeter, 2019. “Returning lands and resources to First Nations
would go a long way to ensuring that First Nations have sustainable governments—and
clean water”, Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/february-2019/first-nations-water-
problems-crisis-canadas-making/

Mar 7: “Not properly cared for”, a disastrous irony

(two pillars: FED + CHAR)
Core concepts: residential schools; Sixties Scoop; federal-provincial conflict
Online reading: Cindy Blackstock, 2016. “The long history of discrimination against
First Nation children”, Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/october-2016/the-long-history-of-
discrimination-against-first-nations-children/

Mar 12: Midterm exam #2

Mar 14: If France does it, it must be okay?

(two pillars: FED + CHAR)
Core concepts: liberalism; feminism; notwithstanding clause 14
Online reading: Kristopher Kinsinger, 2019. “Quebec’s Bill 21 misapplies religious
neutrality principle”, Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/fr/magazines/may-2019/quebecs-bill-21-misapplies-
religious-neutrality-principle/
Online reading: Baron and Sigalet, 2019. “Making the democratic case against Quebec’s
Bill 21”, Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/april-2019/making-democratic-case-
quebecs-bill-21/

Mar 19: The oldest profession

(two pillars: PARL + CHAR)
Core concepts: rights framing; dialogue thesis; venue shopping
Online reading: Tavcer and Barker, 2018. “Finding a middle ground on prostitution”,
Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/may-2018/finding-a-middle-ground-on-
prostitution/

Mar 21: So much more than a pipeline

(three pillar issue)
Core concepts: division of powers; judicial review; Indigenous rights
Online reading: Aaron Wudrick, 2018. “Getting Trans Mountain expansion back on
track”, Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/september-2018/getting-trans-mountain-
expansion-back-on-track/
Online reading: Mason-Case, Potvin and Sandilands, 2018. “Why Ottawa should step
away from Trans Mountain”, Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/august-2018/why-ottawa-should-step-
away-from-trans-mountain/

Mar 26: “The home of political prostitutes and broken down

politicians”
(three pillar issue)
Core concepts: parliamentary representation; regionalism; amendment formula
Textbook: pgs. 101-107 (sections 5.8-5.9)
Online reading: Paul Thomas, 2018. “The “new” improved Senate”, Poli
Mar 28: Paying for your pollution
(three pillar issue)
Core concepts: laboratories of democracy; asymmetric federalism; judicial review
Online reading: Kathryn Harrison, 2019. “The fleeting Canadian harmony on carbon
pricing”, Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/july-2019/the-fleeting-canadian-harmony-
on-carbon-pricing/
Online reading: David McLaughlin, 2019. “National compromise on carbon pricing is
within reach”, Policy Options.
Link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/november-2019/national-compromise-on-
carbon-pricing-is-within-reach/

Apr 2: Insurrection over Insite

(three pillar issue)
Core concepts: laboratories of democracy; liberalism(s); rights framing
Online reading: Andrea Woo, 2016. “Inside Insite: The battle to create BC’s supervised
injection clinic”, The Globe and Mail.
Link: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/investigations/inside-insite-the-battle-to-
create-bcs-supervised-injection-clinic/article29652530/

Apr 4: A 100-year negotiation: Nisga’a Treaty

(three pillar issue)
Core concepts: comprehensive land claim; social union; Crown obligations
Online reading: Nisga’a Government (undated). “Understanding the Treaty”. Link:
https://www.nisgaanation.ca/understanding-treaty

Apr 9: The good, the bad, and the ugly of Canadian democracy
No readings assigned

Apr 11: Final exam review

No readings assigned
NOTES:

Tue: 9 January (Lecture 1)

Overview, introduction.

Thu: 11 January (Lecture 2)

Use venn diagram

Three essential components: parliamentary govt, federalism, charter of rights.
- Constitution lays out the basic laws and guidelines that sets the foundation.

Parliamentary govt: a representative democracy

- Representatives are elected in an indirect fashion (Canada), also not all representative
democracies are parliamentary system of government like the US.
- Responsible government (confidence): if they command the confidence of the House
of Commons.
- Majority seats of a party in the house of commons select the leader in an indirect way.
- Governor general is the representative of the crown.
- Executive power like the PM or the cabinets, these people are derived from the
legislative chamber that is HOC, 338 DISTRICTS or MEMBERS, the PM holds a
seat from the cabinet that launches into the role of the PM.
- Party discipline which includes the threat (own MPs) of being kicked out of the party,
possibility of gaining higher political power, vote on block with the leader.

Federalism:
- Is a question of how to distribute power within a country
- Canada has 3 levels of constitutional government which lays out two sets of
governments which are federal and provincial govts.
- In 1867 imp powers were given to the federation now the powers are more
decentralized. Earlier used to be centralized.

Charter of Rights (1982) and judiciary: Canada is a “liberal” country. The charter is a
document that showcases how Canada is a liberal country. Individual rights that the govt
cannot intervene in.
- the supreme court or judiciary protects the rights of citizens through decision making.
- Judges are given imp high levels of powers as they are appointed not elected which is
key to their functioning. Independent judiciary is a key feature.

Three core political dynamics:

- Regionalism, plural identities, competing liberalism.
Regionalism: differences based on multiple factors which are based on economics,
indentity: such as language,

- Plural identities: managing these various identities for example culturally and
ethnically. Like special cases of Quebec and the indigenous identities. Recognition of
groups and identify their needs.
- Competing liberalisms: includes individual vs group rights.
 Group rights include language and indigenous rights, individual rights are the rights
specified by the charter.

Tue 16th January: Lecture 3

Basics of parliamentary government

Parliament includes: Governor general, house of commons and the senate.

The parliament operates on a basis of several conventions.
- Governor general: representative of Canada’s head of state which is the king.
- Recommended to King by Prime Minister
- Holds power formally decides opening of the parliament, decides when to have an
election (timing), sign legislations.
- Commander in chief of the Canadian armed forces.
- Reads speech from the throne: opening session of the parliament.
- Meets with dignitaries and performs ceremonial duties
- Stays out of politics and media. GG has acted contrary to the advice of the PM
TWICE

Operates under several conventions?

- Generally agreed upon rules that are not written down or ways of doing things in a
system of governance.
- The HOC is the dominant institution of the parliament as it is the only body that is
elected creating more legitimacy.
- Monarchy is still important: does not rule just reigns.

Responsible government conventions:

- Under responsible govt the formal head of the state the king/GG, must always act
under the advice of ministers who are members of the elected house of commons and
those who enjoy the confidence of a majority of MPs in the HOC.
- Has some remaining discretion to act as she wishes but typically only in unique
circumstances and not written down in the constitution (reserve powers).
- Non-partisian

House of Commons:
 338 MPs (members of Parliament) are elected from approx. equal populated
districts
 Functions of the House of Commons:
 Legitimation: debate and pass legislation and laws (legitimize state
actions by majority of folks we elected therefore voted in favour of an
action)
 Accountability: scrutinize gov decisions by opposition parties and
alow canadians to figure out what is happening in Ottawa.
 Representation: represent the interest of Canadians in specific
geographical areas, each MP brings voice from the are they represent
to the parliament.
  Ombudsperson: assisting the constituency of the gov, assists
individuals and groups with the rights
 Most bills are introduced here
 Modern norms in society privileges elections
 Member of parliament in the House elected by the people
 PM and Cabinet derived from HOC, they become the Government
 Main oppositions party called his Majesty’s Loyal Opposition (conservative
party right now) This title sends clear signals that you are still loyal to the
crown even though you are criticizing.

HOC issues:
- Majority vs the minority governments:
- Party with majority government will have a long time to govern and have no problem
keeping seats.
- Minority government must find votes from another party for example NDP agreement
with the liberals to secure seats they can form their own government.
- 2/3rds have been majority governments, comes down to the electoral system produces
artificial majority governments.
- Another convention: whoever was occupying the role of PM gets the first chance to
obtain the confidence of the HOC.

Theories of representation:
- Constituency delegate: when we elect a member of the parliament we hope that they
represent their constituency.
- Trustee form of representation: this when you vote for someone for representation
in the parliament because you trust them, you think they are smart and educated and
they will vote for you.
- Party delegate: we want our MPs to vote in accordance with what their parties tell
them to.

- Party discipline: representatives have the propensity to vote with their party as they
have all the incentives. Strong in Canada as it is a parliamentary form of government
- In Canada parties have the authority to decide who gets to run under the banner. The
party leader can make you an independent MP (enforcement) as most Canadians vote
by looking at the party.
- Advantage: stability in gov, confidence in House, less elections, more time for
electives to act (4 years), easier for voters to see what they transpire
- Disadvantage: makes democracy an illusion, do not need representatives when they
adhere only to party discipline, gaps in representation
- MPs are not powerless, if a party leader pushes MPs to vote for too many things that
are bad for them or their constituencies then the MPs can fight back and depose their
leaders collectively.

The PM and the Cabinet:

- The most powerful group in the Canadian system of gov.
- PM appoints the cabinet which exercises executive power and also decides the
budget.
- Appoint key officials like judges and senators.
- The cabinet is selected by the cabinet and considers regional representation, diversity
in education and demographics along with loyalty to own party etc are imp factors.