THE FEDERAL IDEA

Newsletter: The Liberal-Democratic Party: An Illusory Idea?

Jean-François Godbout,
Assistant professor
Frédéric Mérand,
Associate professor
Department of Political Science, University of Montreal

Since the May 2, 2011, federal election there has been much talk about a merger between the New Democratic Party and the Liberal Party of Canada. The supporters of this option attribute the electoral success of the Conservative Party to the joining of the forces of the right in 2003. Since more than 60% of Canadians did not vote for that party in the last election, they suppose that a merger of the centre and left parties would make the victory of a progressive party possible in 2015. According to Jean Chrétien, if the Liberals had merged with the CCF (the predecessor of the NDP) in 1956, “they would be in government today”. The former Prime Minister added that “it will happen someday”.

Click here to read the newsletter.

1/12/2011

Catalonian nationalism in Spain’s time of crisis: From asymmetrical federalism to independence?

In a Spain devastated by an ongoing economic crisis since 2008, Catalonian nationalism seems to have found a new life.

Liberals for breakfast: the men who would lead Quebec

There are so many Liberal leadership races going on across the country that sometimes we miss a few. I woke up in an arctic Montreal this morning eager to check one of the larger contests off my list.

Newsletter: Rediscovering the Canadian Market

It is often said that national borders are no longer a major economic factor and that, as a result of free trade agreements and market globalization, they do not represent a barrier to trade in goods and services.

The Canadian Equalization Program: Main Elements, Achievements and Challenges

The Canadian equalization program is intended to enable provincial governments to offer services of comparable quality while collecting revenues from their citizens that require approximately the same level of effort.

Newsletter: Towards the Scottish Referendum

2014 will be an historic year for the Scots, as they will be called by their government to vote in a referendum on the political status of their community.