Nov 11, 2026

2026-2027 Undergraduate Academic Calendar

POSC 4020U – Federalism in Canadian Politics

It is important to understand different provinces and territories in order to better understand Canadian politics and Ontario politics and how it is affected by federalism. The challenges for federal policymaking and provincial/territorial policymaking is the management of the relationship between the provinces/territories and the federal government. Provinces and territories are also considered “incubators” for policy and experiment with new policy directions in areas like health care or new types of political parties that have a populist basis which then are replicated at the national level. Each week we will be looking at issues in federalism that affect all provinces and territories but we will also be exploring some of the history and political context of each province and territory in order to expand students’ understanding of provincial and territorial policies and leadership. There are a number of regional differences including how leadership is viewed, what issues prevail and the differing demographics and settlement patterns that have created varied multicultural landscapes. These are interesting stories and narratives that give us some insight into why things happen or don’t happen in Canadian politics and how different groups are impacted by ongoing equity challenges and systemic discrimination. We will also be examining the prevailing issues of federalism that are unique to Canada and will determine the effectiveness, legitimacy and performance of the Canadian state.
Credit hours: 3
Lecture hours: 3
Recommended: POSC 2000U
Note(s): Third- or fourth-year standing
Experiential learning: Yes