Power+-+Contemporary+Period

=What you need to know=
 * Power relations between the state and interest groups (the Church, financial circles, the unions and nationalist movements) from 1867 to the present
 * Power relations between the state and interest groups (feminist movements and the media) from 1900 to the present
 * Power relations between the state and interest groups (Native peoples, language groups, environmentalist groups and movements for social justice) from 1960 to the present
 * The characteristics of federal-provincial power relations from 1867 to the present

=Federal-provincial relations=

4 provinces joined (Canada West (Ontario), Canada East (Quebec), New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) parl.gc.ca
 * British North America Act** (1867) created the Dominion of Canada

2 levels of government: the federal (Canada) government headed by a prime minister and the provincial governments headed by a premier. At first, federal government had most of the power over the provinces. Provinces began demanding more autonomy.

Tensions between 2 levels of government arose mainly over sharing of fiscal revenue (money raised by taxes and customs duties)

Provinces had jurisdictions in education, health and social services (traditionally areas where the Catholic Church had much influence in Quebec)

__French Canadian nationalism and provincial autonomy__

Certain events caused Quebec to develop a stronger sense of nationalism and to demand more autonomy from the federal government:

-Abolition of seperate French-Catholic schools in New Brunswick and Manitoba -Louis Riel affair: French Quebecois identified with Louis Riel and did not want him hanged (thought it an anti- francophone, anti-Catholic gesture) -Conscription: Many French-Quebecois were against conscription (forced enlistment in the army) during WW1

French-Quebcois felt that the federal government did not protect the rights and interests of French Catholics outside Quebec, and wanted to ensure that their rights would be protected. This is why they wanted more autonomy for the province.

= = =Relationships between state and Aboriginals (Metis uprisings, land treaties)= Notes on Metis uprising 1867 (p.144)

Notes on 2nd Metis uprising and Indian Act (p.145-146)





In more recent years, land claims have been central to tensions between Aboriginal groups and the state. In the 1970s issues came up revolving around hydro-electric dams. James Bay Agreement Treaty was signed in 1975 giving financial compensation to Aboriginal groups so the Quebec government could develop use the land.

=Relationships between business and the state= Capitalists had a lot of influence on the state because they made a lot of money. Politicians were often directly involved with big companies and passed laws that favoured the industries. In the late 19th century and beginings of the 20th century, working conditions were very bad. Working class were poor and had no protection/help from the state. They demanded the government make changes to labour laws. These changes were very slow to materialize.

In the 20th century, grants and contracts were often given to businesses who financed political parties. Politicians would pass laws that favoured the capitalists. This gave capitalists a lot of influence over the power of the state. In the 1960s and 1970s laws were enacted to stop this practice. Limits were put on political parties' spending and who could make contributions to a party.

__Rise of unions__
Notes on unions (p.147-148) = = =Relationships between women and the state= = = In the 19th century, women had a lower status than men. They had no political or legal rights, were paid much less than men Women started to fight for their rights (access to higher education, right to vote..) In Quebec, women were met with much opposition. Politicians did not want to change any laws relating to women's rights.

__Women's demands__
Notes on women's right to vote (p.149)

=Duplessis years in Quebec (1936-1939, 1944-1959)= =Quiet Revolution (1960s)=

Quiet Revolution