PAP 3360 Lecture 1: Finding Our Way - Chapter 10 Summary

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Public Administration
• Course: PAP 3360
• Professor: Michael Temelini

Document Summary

Chapter 10 - two models of federalism (cont"d. ) To grant special rights to one province on the grounds that it is "distinct" is somehow to denigrate the other provinces and to create classes of citizens. Commentators argue that this view reflects confused moral thinking. Liberal democracies are deeply committed to the principle of the moral equality of persons, and equal concern and respect for their interests o. Asymmetrical status for nationality-based units can be seen as promoting this underlying moral equality, since it ensures that the national identity of minorities receives the same concern and respect as that of the majority nation. Accommodating these differing identities through asymmetrical federalism does not involve any disrespect or invidious discrimination. So long as english-speaking canadians cling to this ideal of a unitary canadian nationality, they will never accept the asymmetry implicit in a multination conception of canadian federalism.