Across the Aisle : Opposition in Canadian Politics / David E. Smith.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Smith, David E., 1936-2023, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Canada. Parliament--Powers and duties.

Canada.

Opposition (Political science)--Canada.

Opposition (Political science).

Representative government and representation--Canada.

Representative government and representation.

Canada--Politics and government.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (243 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Toronto : University of Toronto Press, [2017]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Readers of Across the Aisle will gain a renewed understanding of official opposition that goes beyond Stornoway and shadow cabinets, illuminating both the historical evolution and recent developments of opposition politics in Canada."--Pub. desc.

David E. Smith argues that Canada has in fact failed to develop such a tradition. He investigates several possible reasons for this failure, including the long dominance of the Liberal party, which arrested the tradition of viewing the opposition as an alternative government; periods of minority government induced by the proliferation of parties; the role of the news media, which have largely displaced Parliament as a forum for commentary on government policy; and, finally, the increasing popularity of calls for direct action in politics.

"How do parties with official opposition status influence Canadian politics? Across the Aisle is an innovative examination of the theory and practice of opposition in Canada, both in Parliament and in provincial legislatures. Extending from the pre-Confederation era to the present day, it focuses on whether Canada has developed a coherent tradition of parliamentary opposition.

Contents:

Chapter One: Opposition: 'Somebody Has To Do It'

PART TWO: PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION

Chapter Two: From Coalition to Coalition, 1867-1920

Chapter Three: The Liberal Ascendancy, 1921-1956

Chapter Four: Minorities and Majorities, 1957-1992

Chapter Five: The Mill of Opposition, 1993-2011

PART THREE: CHALLENGES FOR PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION

Chapter Six: Opposition, More or Less

Chapter Seven: Opposition in the Federation

Chapter Eight: Whither Parliamentary Opposition?

PART FOUR: CONCLUSION

Chapter Nine: The Problem of Parliamentary Opposition Today.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (p. [197]-217) and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 13. Sep 2017)

ISBN:

1-4426-6802-4

1-4426-6801-6

OCLC:

852803501