Public and Constitutional Law

In Canada, sections 91 and 92 of the Constitution Act, 1867 set out the distribution of powers between the federal and provincial governments, and the Act also administers to the specific needs stemming from Quebec's linguistic differences as compared to English Canada. This book examines the distribution of powers in Canada between the federal and provincial governments and provides an analysis of how the courts have treated and decided the issues that have arisen in this context.

This edition covers all the significant developments of the past decade, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper's battles with the Supreme Court and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's efforts at a more co-operative approach to intergovernmental relations. It also features two entirely new chapters - one on criminal justice and criminal law, the other on comparative federalism.

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.