By Dylan Jones
In the National Post

Sept. 9, 2013


 

The true cost of the endless debate over Senate reform is how much it has distracted from governance reforms that would actually improve the lives of Canadians. The idea that the Senate is an essential forum for representing regional voices reflects the bias that the only government that matters is the federal one. In reality, as has been well argued by Premier Wall of Saskatchewan, it is the division of powers between the federal and provincial governments that actually shapes how our country is governed.

The dominant fact of Canadian federalism is that provinces are strong and important actors. This fact is overlooked by the many academics and journalists enthralled by the political theatre in Ottawa.

Canada has too long been content with modest prosperity. For Canada to fully realize its potential, much more effective mechanisms between its governments are needed to coordinate policy and improve outcomes.

One of the most promising new forces to emerge in Canadian federalism is the Council of the Federation – a body which includes the Premiers but not the Prime Minister.

The Council has had some signature successes, most notably the dramatic reduction in interprovincial barriers to labour mobility. Without the vigorous joint insistence by Premiers, there is no question that Canada’s professional regulatory bodies would still be imposing a long list of redundant and costly re-certification requirements on Canadians who want to move within the country.

Despite the handful of successes, the need for the Council to operate on a consensus basis means that most of its discussions end in unfocused, milk toast communiques or complaints about the federal government. Files that scream out for joint provincially-led action – such as securities regulation – have been missed opportunities. “Joint action” remains anathema to several provinces as they jealously guard their jurisdiction against not only the federal government, but also other provinces – even when inefficiency and poor outcomes are the result.

There are some laudable elements to Prime Minister Harper’s approach to federalism. He has not given the provinces a forum for their frequent efforts to get the federal government to impose more taxes to pay for provincially-delivered services. He has also diminished the efforts of the federal bureaucracy to micromanage provincial service delivery – an area where Ottawa has very little competence. In short, he has encouraged Canada’s provinces to take more responsibility for themselves and the services they deliver.

Nevertheless, the mechanisms for federal-provincial dialogue are in a sorry state. It is disgrace that the Prime Minister has not met with the Premiers as a group since January 2009. The federal government’s practice of avoiding taking part in anything it doesn’t control, and the provincial habit of demanding money at every turn, has been toxic. And this is true even on files where it is clear that dialogue is needed and would likely be quite fruitful (such as the need to reform the job training system in Canada so it is more responsive to the needs of citizens).

In addition, Canada’s Parliament itself is badly in need of reform in the house that really matters – the Commons. Other Westminster jurisdictions have long since reformed their processes to encourage the brand differentiation of political parties based on substantive policy disagreements and critical value differences. In Canada, it’s still about cheap theatrics and scoring political points rather than a genuine effort to ensure good governance of the country.

The Senate is only one chamber in one arm of one of Canada’s many governments. If Canada is to prosper in the 21st century, there is a desperate need to modernize our entire system of federalism. That may be too grand a project for some, but it is one that matters a great deal more than the latest Senate scandal.

Dylan Jones is the President and CEO of the Canada West Foundation.