Federalism in Canada tells the turbulent story of shared sovereignty and divided governance from Confederation to the present time with three main objectives in mind. The first objective is to convince readers that federalism is the primary animating force in Canadian politics, and that it is therefore worth engaging with its complex nature and dynamic. The second objective is to bring into closer focus the contested concepts about the meaning and operation of federalism that are at the root of the divide between English Canada and Quebec in particular. The third objective is to give recognition to the trajectory of Canada’s Indigenous peoples in the context of Canadian federalism, from years of abusive neglect to belated efforts of inclusion. The book focuses on the constitution with its ambiguous allocation of divided powers, the pivotal role of the courts in balancing these powers, and the political leaders whose interactions oscillate between intergovernmental conflict and cooperation. This focus on executive leadership and judicial supervision is framed by considerations of Canada’s regionalized political economy and cultural diversity, giving students a compelling and nuanced view of federalism in Canada.

Thomas O. Hueglin grew up in Germany and moved to Canada in 1983. He is a professor of political science at Wilfrid Laurier University. His most recent book publications are Comparative Federalism and Classical Debates for the Twenty-first Century: Rethinking Political Thought. He lives in New Dundee, Ontario.

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"Federalism in Canada is fresh and matter of fact, a constitutional travelogue."

<em>Blacklock’s Reporter</em>

"I highly recommend this book to all students of federalism interested in understanding how the Canadian federal system came to be and how it evolved over the past century and a half. It is a textbook example of a contribution that is perfectly balanced between advancing knowledge and making scholarly research accessible to the public."

<em>Canadian Journal of Political Science</em>

"This book rightfully should take its place within this scholarly history of federalism as a useful and original contribution."

<em>Publius: The Journal of Federalism</em>