Chretien and Canadian Federalism [Paperback]

Edward McWhinney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 16, 2003

Drawing on his experience as a two-term MP and former Parliamentary Secretary, Ted McWhinney addresses the need for modernization to meet the radically new demands of the plural, multicultural Canada of the 21st century and offers new ways out of our present constitutional straight-jacket. Among the key contemporary topics discussed are the atrophy of the House of Commons and the role of MPs; the development of the "presidential" Prime Minister without any constitutional checks and balances; the emergence of judicial legislation through a Supreme Court suddenly empowered by the 1982 Charter of Rights; the provincial demands for a new cooperative federalism; and the aboriginal peoples’ claims to an inherent right to self government. Proposals for reform are canvassed frankly. More importantly, practical ways out of our present constitutional straight-jacket—the result of the failure of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords—are put forward for debate.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A lucid, measured and devasting indictment of our obselete constitutional arrangements, and a plea for innovative reforms." -- Alan Cairns, Past President of the Canadian Political Science Association

"Ted McWhinney, a brilliant political scientist,lawyer and MP, takes the reader behind the scenes..." -- Barbara Yaffe, Vancouver Sun political columnist

About the Author

Edward (Ted) McWhinney, a graduate of Yale University, has held professorships at the Sorbonne, Heidelberg, Madrid, Toronto, McGill, Indiana and, most recently, Simon Fraser University. The author of more than 40 books and several hundred articles, he has been an adviser and consultant to the United Nations, the Government of Canada and a number of foreign states. Throughout the 1990s he served two full terms as Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary before deciding not to stand for re-election. He now continues his work as legal counsel, governmental adviser, teacher and writer from his home base in Vancouver, BC.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Ronsdale Press (August 16, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1553800060
• ISBN-13: 978-1553800064
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,058,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars McWhinney's Memoirs, April 11, 2005

By 

Kelly (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chretien and Canadian Federalism (Paperback)

I was thoroughly disappointed with this book. Rather than discuss politics and the constitution 1993-2002, the author chose to share with his readers a glimpse into his life as an MP. The strategies he employed, the goals he achieved and the role he played in the decision making process. If you are expecting a discussion about politics and the constitution, you've come across the wrong book. Much of the text is written in first person, and very little addresses 'the need for modernization and updatng to meet the radically new demands of the plural multicultural Canada'. If the photos in the book are any indication of the balance of the text, consider this - of the 23 photos inlcuded, McWhinney appears in 22, Chretien appears in 3.