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The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: An Introduction to Charter Rights

Judicial System & Legal Issues

| Sep 7, 2007

p>The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a central element of the Canadian Constitution and has a major impact on the relationship between Canadians and their governments.

The Goods and Services Tax: Overview & History

Feature by Jay Makarenko |

Economy, Trade & Finance

| Aug 31, 2007

The introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) represented a significant change to Canada’s system of taxation, was well as a major source of debate in Canadian politics. This article provides an introduction to the GST, which includes an overview of its operation, a review of its political history, and a summary of key debates on the GST.

Canadian Forces: Basic Roles and Structure

Feature by Jay Makarenko |

Military & Security

| Aug 30, 2007

The Canadian Forces, Canada’s formal military organization, provides many key domestic and international functions. This article presents the basic roles and structure of the Canadian Forces, both in the domestic and international context.

The Canadian Constitution: Introduction to Canada’s Constitutional Framework

Feature by Jay Makarenko |

Judicial System & Legal Issues

| Aug 1, 2007

p>The Constitution is Canada’s premier political institution, representing the basic “rulebook” by which Canadian politics operate.

Coalition Governments in Canada

Feature by Jay Makarenko |

Government & Institutions

| Jul 1, 2007

Coalition governments have been rare in Canadian history; however, the ones that have existed had have important impacts on Canadian politics. This article describes the nature of coalition governments in Canada, including a basic definition of coalition governments, an overview of different types of coalitions, and a historical perspective on coalition governments in Canada.

Official Bilingualism in Canada: History and Debates

Feature by Jay Makarenko |

Government & Institutions

| Jul 1, 2007

p>Language politics and the issue of official bilingualism have been a factor in Canadian politics since before Confederation. They have impacted not only the operation of federal institutions, but also the cultural and linguistic makeup of Canadian society. This article provides a historical and public policy overview of official bilingualism in Canada.