Bridgewater Review

Volume 13 | Issue 2 Article 5

Dec-1994 Reshaping Canadian Politics: The Government of Jean Chrétien Christopher Kirkey Bridgewater State College

Recommended Citation Kirkey, Christopher (1994). Reshaping Canadian Politics: The Government of Jean Chrétien. Bridgewater Review, 13(2), 6-9. Available at: http://vc.bridgew.edu/br_rev/vol13/iss2/5

This item is available as part of Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. ------­ ~------

n 26 October 1993 the Liberal THE DOMESTIC ARENA Part~ of Canada, under the lead Since reconvening Parliament on 17 ershlp of Jean Chretien, won a O January 1994, three distinct areas have decisive victory in Canadian national demanded the bulk of the Liberal elections. The Liberals, in what many government's attention: the health ofthe observers regard as the most important Canadian economy; charting a new federal electoral results since the course in federal-provincial relations' founding of Canada in 1867, captured and the unresolved status of Canadia~ RESHAPING a majority (177 of 295) of the seats in federalism - i.e., "the Quebec question." the House of Commons. The election CANADIAN also marked the rise of two recent, al­ Ottawa's plan for addressing the in­ terrelated economic issues of growth beit former marginal parties to promi­ b~ POLITICS: nence: the pro-Quebec independence the national deficit (projected to party, the Bloc Quebecois (now the of­ $41.2 billion for 1994-1995), the na­ The ficial opposition with 54 seats), and the tional debt (projected to reach $550 Reform Party (52 seats). The Progres­ billion by the close of 1994), and na­ Government of sive Conservative Party, having ruled tional unemployment (11.2% on aver­ Canada since 1984 under the tutelage age in 1993), was most fully revealed Jean Chretien of Brian Mulroney and then Kim on 22 February 1994 when Paul Mar­ Campbell, were able to capture but 2 tin, Minister of Finance, presented the Christopher Kirkey seats in the House (from a pre-election federal budget before the House of total of 153 seats). Itwas, in the words Commons. The eagerly awaited an­ of The New York Times, "the most pun­ nouncement included a commitment ishing blow to any governing party in to job creation (principally through a Canadian political history." The aver­ series of capital funding proposals), a age Canadian had finally soured on the plan to gradually reduce Canada's bur­ nine year performance put forth by the geoning national deficit (by amounts Progressive Conservative party. of $1.5 billion for 1994-1995, and by $5.1 billion for 1995-1996), and a limit The mandate given by Canadian vot­ to government expenditures (by freez­ ers to Prime Minister Jean Chretien and ing spending for 1994-1995 and 1995­ his fellow Liberal Party members was 1996, at the 1992-1993 level of $122.5 clear: change was demanded. The Lib­ billion). Ottawa is also preparing to erals were expected, in short, to be the soon introduce legislation before necessary political instrument to imple­ Parliament to substantially revise ment a broad range of reforms. In the Canada's $40 billion social assistance course of the election campaign, candi­ network, as well as longstanding agri­ date Chretien proposed new initiatives cultural support programs (the corner­ targeted both at the domestic and inter~ stone ofwhich is the $560 million fed­ national arenas, that a Liberal govern­ eral grain transportation subsidy). ment would introduce as legislation. On the subject of federal-provincial The purpose of this article is two­ relations - an area that had largely fold: to examine some of the most Jean Chretien come to be dominated by attempts to pressing issues that have, over the past broker deals between competing pro­ several months, confronted the vincial interests during the Mulroney/ Chretien government; and, to specifi­ Campbell years - the Chretien gov­ cally review the corresponding policy ernment swiftly moved to interject a measures taken by the Liberals in or­ pragmatic, business-like approach de­ der to address these national concerns. fined in terms of the national interest. Convening a meeting of federal and provincial leaders on 21 December

6 ------1993, Prime Minister Chretien and the 12 September 1994 provincial election dian federation. This will, in aillikeli­ premiers agreed to a number of items. by the pro-independence Parti Quebe­ hood, decidedly change as a referen­ The list includes a cost sharing formula cois. The Parti Quebecois, who man­ dum on the future of Quebec and for financing a $6 billion national in­ aged to win 77 of 125 seats in the Que­ Canada draws near. Prime Minister frastructure program (the focus of bec National Assembly, have repeatedly Chretien-will, given his staunch feder­ which is to repair and/or replace roads, pledged - under the leadership of alist beliefs, be undoubtedly faced with sewer systems, etc... ); a new five year Jacques Parizeau - to hold, within a the necessity of having to fervently package for financial transfer payments period of 8 to 10 months, a provincial campaign on a pro-Quebec-Canada/ from Ottawa to the provincial capitals; referendum on the issue of whether anti-independent-Quebec platform, as joint examination of how to revise and, Quebec should separate from Canada. did the Liberal government of Pierre if necessary, replace social assistance Clearly Prime Minister Chretien Trudeau in 1980 (in the face of then programs; an attempt to eliminate the would unreservedly preferred to have Parti Quebecois Premier Rene cumbersome interprovincial trade bar­ seen Daniel Johnson triumph. This Levesque's sovereignist challenge). In rier network (an agreement was would have squashed, at least tempo­ the course of such a campaign, the reached in July 1994); a move to re­ rarily, any attempt on the part of Que­ Chretien led team - and other pro­ place the federally imposed goods and bec to formally secede from the Cana­ federalists across Canada - have two services tax (i.e., the CST); and, a com­ dian union. More importantly, it would valuable points presently working in mitment to harmonize federal and pro­ have provided Ottawa with an oppor- their favor. First, the Quebec provin­ vincial consumption tax levels as cial election was, according to the ma­ quickly as possible. In commenting on jority of public opinion polls, over­ Ottawa's attempt to reshape the fed­ Quebec's st£ltus may well whelmingly viewed by Quebecers as a eral-provincial relationship, Marcel referendum on the state of the Masse, Minister of Intergovernmental prove to be Ott£lwa's most province's economic performance, and Affairs and Public Service Renewal, severe political test in the future health - not on whether Que­ noted: "Mr. Chretien clearly wants first necers preferred Confederation or in­ ministers conferences to be used as immediate future. dependence. As The Globe and Mail instruments where the first ministers put it, the Parti Quebecois was given are not looking at their own specific tunity - i.e., a four year period - to "a mandate to govern, not a mandate interests, but rather at a national in­ fashion a successful political arrange­ to separate." Second, pollsters con­ terest." This perspective has to date ment (unlike the Meech Lake and tinue to solidly demonstrate that ap­ been welcomed by the majority of pre­ Charlottetown accords) or series of proximately 60% of Quebecers would miers, if only because it represents a administrative agreements (an ap­ vote to stay in Canada - provided the clear departure from the tone of fed­ proach favored by Marcel Masse) that aforementioned grievances were suffi­ eral-provincial relations since 1984. As would have simultaneously addressed ciently addressed by Ottawa. Bob Rae, Premier of Ontario stated at Quebec's longstanding assorted griev­ the conclusion of the initial federal­ ances (e.g., language, culture, immi­ THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA provincial summit: "there was hardly gration, and representation), and any bullshit." served as a vehicle for fully incorpo­ In the area of Canadian security in­ Quebec's status - as a continuing rating Quebec into the Canadian-fed­ terests and related military commit­ memberin, or potentially independent eration (Quebec was the lone provin­ ments, the Chretien government has of, the Canadian federation - may cial dissenter to the Constitution Act moved to address a number of con­ well prove to be Ottawa's most severe of 1982). cerns. Immediately following the elec­ tion, the Prime Minister cancelled the political test in the immediate future. To date, Mr. Chretien and his col­ highly politically charged program The governing Liberal Party in Que­ leagues have yet to assume an activist (initiated by the former Conservative bec City, led by pro-federalist Premier role in Quebec provincial affairs. Le­ regime) to purchase 43 EH-I01 heli­ Daniel Johnson (Johnson ran uncon­ gions of federal Liberal MPs have not, copters. The Department of National tested at the 14 December 1993 pro­ for instance, canvassed Quebec in an Defense (in cooperation with the Min- vincialleadership convention, thereby attempt to sell the virtues of the filling the vacancy created by the res­ province's continued role in the Cana- ignation of ailing Premier Robert Bourassa), was recently defeated in the

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istry of Fisheries, the Ministry of Trans­ supported Canadian participation in proach") for extending membership in portation, and the Royal Canadian United Nations' led peacekeeping ef­ the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Mounted Police) has, at the request of forts in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, to states in Eastern Europe. It has also Brian Tobin, Minister of Fisheries, de­ and Haiti (forthcoming). In total, some vigorously championed the case of ex­ veloped plans for intercepting and 2,000 Canadian soldiers are stationed iled Haitian president Jean Bertrand boarding foreign trawlers that harvest in Bosnia and Croatia, while some 685 Aristide. To this end, Canada has com­ fish on the fringes of Canada's 200-mile armed services personnel are in mitted members of the Royal Canadian fishing limit. These vessels are repeat­ Rwanda. Finally, in an effort to un­ Mounted Police to aid in maintaining edly cited by Ottawa as the principal ambiguously identify the various roles order on the violence-prone island. source of overfishing and hence re­ and requirements for the Canadian The Chretien government has also sponsible for a corresponding precipi­ Armed Forces in the rapidly changing played host to Arab and Israeli diplo­ tous decline in available fish stocks. international political system, Ottawa matic negotiations (February 1994), The net results of this planning were (in April 1994) initiated a defense and provided a $2.5 million technical aid evidenced this past July when fisher­ foreign policy parliamentary commit­ package to assist Ukrainian authorities men aboard the Massachusetts based tee review. in conducting that country's first scallop draggers, the Warrior and Al­ On the diplomatic front, the democratic party elections (March pha Omega II, were arrested and Chretien led team has supported the 1994), and allocated $10 million in charged with violating Canadian fish­ American sponsored Partnership for technical assistance to design and ing regulations. The Liberals have also Peace proposal (i.e., "go slow ap- implement a modern safety regime for

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Russia's rapidly aging nuclear power practices such as floor/minimum This survey of issues that have and facilities. Other issues on the interna­ prices, inflated distribution costs, and will continue to confront the govern­ tional scene that Canada has addressed service fees. In the view of the U.S. ment of Prime Minister Jean Chretien, in 1994 include: repeated attempts to agricultural community, Canadian suggests that the agenda of the Liberal persuade Western Hemispheric politi­ peanut and sugar product exports to Party will continue to be challenging cal leaders, particularly U.S. President the U.S. are unfairly subsidized by Ot­ in the months ahead. If the October Bill Clinton, to end more than three tawa. Moreover, there are bilateral dif­ 1993 electoral mandate is any indica­ decades of Cuban isolationism (Canada ferences on such products as U.S. tion, the political success or failure of recently resumed foreign aid to Cuba); poultry and dairy exports (the latter the Chretien government will ulti­ a commitment of relief assistance in of which Canada seeks to impose mately hinge on the astuteness and the sum of $11 million (targeted for duties on, anywhere in the neighbor­ effectiveness of its policies in both the humanitarian purposes such as drink­ hood of 100-326%), and East Coast fish­ domestic and international arenas. ing water, sanitation, shelter, and inglWest Coast salmon harvesting. health care) for war-ravaged Rwanda; All five of these issue-areas have participation, as observers, in the re­ throughout 1994 been the subject of cent Mexican elections; and, initiatives periodic negotiations between Ottawa intended to broaden and deepen the and Washington. scope of Canadian-Chinese/Southeast On a positive note for the Chretien Asian trade relations. government, a binational dispute panel The principal international focus for (established under the terms of the Christopher Kirkey the Chretien government has, how­ 1989 Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agree­ Assistant Professor ever, been closer to home: namely, the ment) ruled in December 1993 that of Political Science United States. Ottawa has been re­ exports of Canadian softwood to the PHOTO GALAXY STUDIOS quired, since October 1993, to address United States were not subsidized ­ a constant stream of bilateral issues. in this case by the province of British The Prime Minister indicated, for ex­ Columbia. In view of the decision, the ample, that Canada would not be pre­ U.S. Commerce Department agreed to pared to officially proclaim the North eliminate duties of 6.51 % on Canadian American Free Trade Agreement un­ softwood lumber imports. Further­ less U.S. authorities were able to meet more, Canadian officials were able to outstanding Canadian objectives on a reach agreement with American au­ subsidies code, the process of dispute thorities on an interim plan to shut­ settlement, and protective energy and down the Georges Bank fishery (in water measures. These concerns were light of pervasive overfishing and a ultimately settled to the satisfaction of concomitant decline in fish stocks) for Ottawa in late November/early Decem­ a period of five months (the pact ex­ ber 1993. "The deal is not perfect," Mr. pired 1 June 1994). More recently, an Chretien informed an Ottawa news arrangement to govern export levels of conference on 2 December, "but I am Canadian wheat to the United States very satisfied with the progress we was worked out. The August 1994 pact made." The Prime Minister proceeded permits Canada to ship 1.5 million to implement the sectoral free trade tonnes of wheat duty free, or at rela­ legislation on 30 December. Other tively low tariff rates. Exports exceed­ matters have also competed for promi­ ing this limit will, with few exceptions, nence on the Canadian-American be subject to prohibitively high tariff agenda. According to leading U.S. charges. brewers and winemakers, American beer and wine exports to Canada are subject to unfair, restrictive Canadian

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