Provincial and Territorial Politics in Canada and Beyond

J17(a) - Indigenous and Territorial Politics in Canada and Beyond

Date: Jun 5 | Time: 10:15am to 11:45am | Location:

Cabinet Government in Atlantic Canada: The Prince Edward Island Case: J.P. Lewis (University of New Brunswick), Erin Crandall (Acadia University)
Abstract: Drawing from original survey data that details the experiences of deputy ministers with cabinet government, as well as data on the composition of cabinets, this paper examines the evolution of cabinet government in Prince Edward Island since 1995. It is part of a larger study of cabinet government in Atlantic Canada. We hypothesize that in response to developments in the practice of politics, such as permanent election campaigning, the evolution of communications technology and leader-centred politics, that premiers in Atlantic Canada are increasingly powerful actors, which has in turn has contributed to the marginalization of ministerial roles and the weakening of collective cabinet responsibility.

Decarbonizing Transportation Infrastructure in Systems of Multilevel Governance: The “Mobility Transition” in Canada and Germany: Jorg Broschek (Wilfrid Laurier University)
Abstract: Transport is one of the largest GHG emitting economic sectors. Against this backdrop, governments from all levels have ramped up their efforts to decarbonize transportation. The notion “mobility transition” encapsulates this ambition displayed in political discourses and policy initiatives to promote paradigmatic change in the transportation sector. Transportation infrastructure policy, therefore, is a key element in the ongoing transition towards a greener and more equitable economy. However, the transport sector has been particularly resistant to change. Building on an emerging research project, this paper adopts a most different case design by comparing Canada with Germany in the European Union to examine how multilevel governance affects these efforts. It analyzes how policy makers utilize their specific authority over infrastructure policy – individually or through intergovernmental coordination - to incentivize modes of transportation that reduce the carbon impact of mobility patterns (e.g. public transit, active modes of transportation) and disincentivize high carbon modes of transportation (e.g. personal vehicle traffic, short-distance flights) within and beyond their own jurisdiction.

Why Is Quebec Not BC? Comparing Provincial Approaches to Indigenous Policy: Martin Papillon (Université de Montréal)
Abstract: Relations between Indigenous peoples and Canadian provinces have become increasingly important in recent years, particularly as Indigenous peoples have actively mobilized to assert their constitutional rights. Key legal rulings have broadened provincial responsibilities under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, empowering provinces not only to protect and uphold but also to limit "Aboriginal and treaty rights." While all provincial governments have adapted to these constitutional changes, their responses have varied in both form and scope. Drawing on data collected over the past two decades on provincial Indigenous policies, this paper aims to compare and contrast contemporary approaches to Indigenous policy across provinces. Focusing specifically on British Columbia and Quebec, it then explores potential theoretical explanations for the differing policy directions in these two provinces.

Changing Tides: Predictors of Public Opinion for Pipelines to Tidewater: Bianca Jamal (University of Saskatchewan)
Abstract: Federalism can exacerbate tensions around the uneven geographical distribution of natural resources. Related conflicts recur in Canada, a federal state with petroleum products concentrated in the province of Alberta. Relatedly, conflicts over pipelines often cleave Canadian public opinion and governments along geographic lines, including the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project and Keystone XL. One group of authors focuses on how geographic and other structural factors appear in ideational values. Another group focuses on the ideational narrative of Western alienation. I examine 1) what factors drive support for pipelines to tidewater and 2) what factors drive the importance of pipelines to tidewater. I conduct an ordinal logistic regression analysis of public opinion polling to analyze these factors. The key variables are prioritizing the economy over the environment and Western alienation.