With a focus on the dynamics of actors, institutions, and the processes embedded in considerations of regional and cultural diversity, this book traces Canada’s sovereignty journey.

Prologue: Approaches to Canadian Federalism
A Personal Account by Means of Acknowledgement
Contested Concepts as the Underlying Dynamic and Central Theme
Organization and Outline

1 An Introductory Understanding of Canadian Federalism
Shared Sovereignty
Power of the Courts
Sunny Ways of Compromise
Fiscal Imbalance
Executive Dominance
Imperfection

2 Confederation
Coming Together Lately
Relics of Empire
Unitary Impositions
Federal Accommodations
Parliamentary Concessions
"Indians"
An Incomplete Contract

3 Judicial Interpretations
Pith and Substance
From Need to Necessity
Beyond Provincial Concern
Federalism Demands Nothing Less
Law and Politics

4 From a Crisis of Capitalism to a Crisis of Federalism
Dramatic Crisis and BNA Act Federalism at a Loss
Prairie Populism
Enlightened Reactionaries
Rowell-Sirois Commission
Reversal of Functions

5 Mostly Fiscal Relations
Tax Sharing
Cost Sharing
Fiscal Equalization
Under the Indian Act
Fiscal Imbalance and the Spending Power

6 Difference, Dependency, and Displacement
Quebec Nationalism
Western Alienation
Eastern Dependencies
Indigenous Displacement
Regionalism and Federalism

7 Patriation and the Constitution Act, 1982
The Long Road to Patriation
Amendment
Charter
Aboriginal Rights
Flexible Renewal

8 The Unfinished Business of Canadian Federalism
Constitutional Politics
Secession and Clarity
Interstate Federalism and Intrastate Federalism
Indigenous Land Rights and Self-Government
Shifting Identities

9 Contested Concepts of Canadian Federalism
A Plural Compact of Provinces or a Dual Compact of Nationalities?
How Much Autonomy or Interdependence?
Treaty Federalism

Epilogue: Still a Federal Country
Bibliography
Index

Thomas O. Hueglin Thomas O. Hueglin is a professor in the Department of Political Science at Wilfrid Laurier University.