The Canadian Grievance Index: A F-e-d-e-r-a-l Story Jack Jedwab February 11, 2010 For Face the...

The Canadian Grievance The Canadian Grievance Index: A F-e-d-e-r-a-l Index: A F-e-d-e-r-a-l

Story Story Jack JedwabJack Jedwab

February 11, 2010February 11, 2010For Face the Nation Conference For Face the Nation Conference

Ottawa Ottawa

Methodology Methodology Leger Marketing survey conducted with Leger Marketing survey conducted with 1,5001,500 adult Canadians adult Canadians

January 30, 2010. A sample of this size yields a maximum margin of January 30, 2010. A sample of this size yields a maximum margin of error of error of ± 2.6%,± 2.6%, 19 times out of 20. In order to ensure a 19 times out of 20. In order to ensure a representative sample of the Canadian population, the data were representative sample of the Canadian population, the data were weighted by age, gender, region and language according to the weighted by age, gender, region and language according to the latest Statistics Canada information.”latest Statistics Canada information.”

““Sondage Léger Marketing réalisé auprès de 1500 Canadien(ne)s Sondage Léger Marketing réalisé auprès de 1500 Canadien(ne)s âges de 18 and et plus, le 30 janvier 2010. Un échantillon de cette âges de 18 and et plus, le 30 janvier 2010. Un échantillon de cette taille présente une marge d’erreur de taille présente une marge d’erreur de ± 2,6%,± 2,6%, 19 fois sur 20. À l’aide 19 fois sur 20. À l’aide des plus récentes données de Statistique Canada, les résultats ont des plus récentes données de Statistique Canada, les résultats ont été pondérés selon l’âge, le sexe, la région et la langue afin été pondérés selon l’âge, le sexe, la région et la langue afin d’obtenir un échantillon représentatif de la population canadienned’obtenir un échantillon représentatif de la population canadienne

Tension is inherent in federal Tension is inherent in federal systems of government systems of government

At the very root of federal systems of At the very root of federal systems of government is power sharing and the ongoing government is power sharing and the ongoing effort to strike some balance between resources effort to strike some balance between resources and responsibilities between various levels of and responsibilities between various levels of government. Not surprisingly where such power government. Not surprisingly where such power sharing occurs there is an inherent tension sharing occurs there is an inherent tension

In Canada the member provinces of the In Canada the member provinces of the federation are very diverse in their respective federation are very diverse in their respective geography, population size and resources and geography, population size and resources and hence any effort to effect redistribution will likely hence any effort to effect redistribution will likely create some degree of dissatisfaction. create some degree of dissatisfaction.

But tension should not be But tension should not be considered unhealthy considered unhealthy

Tension is not always unhealthy as it often permits adjustments to Tension is not always unhealthy as it often permits adjustments to the system of government that make for more equitable distribution the system of government that make for more equitable distribution to the population. to the population.

In his essay on Federalism & Democracy, Professor David J. In his essay on Federalism & Democracy, Professor David J. Bodenhamer cites James Madison to the effect that in the United Bodenhamer cites James Madison to the effect that in the United States, “…the claims of the federal government and the claims of States, “…the claims of the federal government and the claims of state governments have always existed in tension with each other.”state governments have always existed in tension with each other.”

Bodenhamer notes that they still do. To resolve this tension requires Bodenhamer notes that they still do. To resolve this tension requires ongoing reassessment concerning the proper distribution of power ongoing reassessment concerning the proper distribution of power between the two levels of government. Disputes surrounding between the two levels of government. Disputes surrounding federalism, he adds, are about which government, state or national, federalism, he adds, are about which government, state or national, best expresses the people's will. He concludes that the there are no best expresses the people's will. He concludes that the there are no final answers to these questions, and by consequence, “the tension final answers to these questions, and by consequence, “the tension inherent in federalism will never disappear.”inherent in federalism will never disappear.”

Developing indicators Developing indicators

In short whether it is in Canada or In short whether it is in Canada or elsewhere federal systems give rise to elsewhere federal systems give rise to some degree and form of grievance. We some degree and form of grievance. We describe the grievances as f-e-d-e-r-a-l as describe the grievances as f-e-d-e-r-a-l as the various indicators included look at the various indicators included look at such characteristics as:such characteristics as:

fairness-equity- detachment-fairness-equity- detachment-empowerment-respect empowerment-respect advantage/disadvantage-leadership. advantage/disadvantage-leadership.

Grievance Index Grievance Index

The main indicators in the construction of the Canadian The main indicators in the construction of the Canadian grievance index are as follows: (1) the degree to which grievance index are as follows: (1) the degree to which the two levels of government are working well together the two levels of government are working well together (2) the extent to which the provinces are perceived to be (2) the extent to which the provinces are perceived to be treated with respect (3) the perceived degree of treated with respect (3) the perceived degree of empowerment as reflected by the province’s influence on empowerment as reflected by the province’s influence on federal government decisions (4) the extent to which the federal government decisions (4) the extent to which the provinces are believed to be receiving a fair amount of provinces are believed to be receiving a fair amount of money from the federal government (5) the extent to money from the federal government (5) the extent to which other provinces are perceived to getting better which other provinces are perceived to getting better treatment and (6) the extent to which the federal treatment and (6) the extent to which the federal government is perceived to be interfering in provincial government is perceived to be interfering in provincial decisions. decisions.

Categories of Grievance Categories of Grievance

An attempt is made to rank their An attempt is made to rank their grievances. We suggest the following four grievances. We suggest the following four categories of grievance: (1) the Very categories of grievance: (1) the Very Aggrieved who want a lot more for their Aggrieved who want a lot more for their province, (2) the somewhat aggrieved or province, (2) the somewhat aggrieved or softly aggrieved want some more for their softly aggrieved want some more for their province, (3) the somewhat satisfied who province, (3) the somewhat satisfied who want a little more for their province and (4) want a little more for their province and (4) the very satisfied who are by and large the very satisfied who are by and large happy with what their province has. happy with what their province has.

Cumulative Cumulative Grievance Grievance

Very Aggrieved Very Aggrieved Somewhat Somewhat Aggrieved Aggrieved

Somewhat Somewhat Satisfied Satisfied

Very Satisfied Very Satisfied

Total Total 122 (20.1%)122 (20.1%) 204 (34%)204 (34%) 158 (26.2)158 (26.2) 42 (7.0)42 (7.0)

Maritimes Maritimes 157 (26.0%)157 (26.0%) 220 (36.6%)220 (36.6%) 128 (21.3)128 (21.3) 15 (2.5)15 (2.5)

Quebec Quebec 148 (24.6%)148 (24.6%) 208 (34.6%)208 (34.6%) 125 (20.8)125 (20.8) 51 (8.5)51 (8.5)

OntarioOntario 86 (14.3%)86 (14.3%) 184 (31%)184 (31%) 191 (31.8)191 (31.8) 46 (7.6)46 (7.6)

Manitoba/ Manitoba/ SaskatchewSaskatchewanan

123 (20.1%)123 (20.1%) 242 (40.3%)242 (40.3%) 140 (23.3)140 (23.3) 18 (3.0)18 (3.0)

Alberta Alberta 130 (21.8%)130 (21.8%) 182 (30%)182 (30%) 164 (27.3)164 (27.3) 42 (7.0)42 (7.0)

British Columbia British Columbia 162 (27%)162 (27%) 208 (34.6%)208 (34.6%) 149 (25.0)149 (25.0) 25 (4.0)25 (4.0)

One in five Canadians very aggrieved and one in three One in five Canadians very aggrieved and one in three somewhat aggrieved-Maritimes, BC and Prairies most somewhat aggrieved-Maritimes, BC and Prairies most

aggrievedaggrieved

Very Aggrieved Very Aggrieved Somewhat Aggrieved Somewhat Aggrieved Total Aggrieved Total Aggrieved Somewhat Satisfied Somewhat Satisfied Very Satisfied Very Satisfied

The federal and The federal and provincial provincial governments are governments are working well working well togethertogether

17,7%17,7% 40,8%40,8% 58.558.5 26,7%26,7% 3,6%3,6%

My province is treated with My province is treated with the respect it the respect it deserves in Canadadeserves in Canada

16,4%16,4% 29,5%29,5% 45.945.9 35,1%35,1% 11,4%11,4%

People in my province People in my province have strong have strong influence on influence on federal federal government government decisionsdecisions

20,7%20,7% 34,6%34,6% 55.355.3 25,4%25,4% 7,6%7,6%

The federal government The federal government interferes in interferes in provincial provincial decision-makingdecision-making

15,1%15,1% 37,3%37,3% 52.452.4 24,8%24,8% 6,8%6,8%

The federal government The federal government does not transfer does not transfer the fair amount of the fair amount of money to my money to my provinceprovince

25,6%25,6% 29,1%29,1% 54.754.7 16,4%16,4% 6,5%6,5%

Other provinces get Other provinces get better treatment better treatment than my than my province province

25,6%25,6% 32,2%32,2% 57.857.8 20,7%20,7% 5,3%5,3%

Strongest grieve over money and Strongest grieve over money and perceived disadvantage compared to perceived disadvantage compared to

othersothers

The federal The federal and provincial and provincial governments governments are working are working well togetherwell together

Very Very Aggrieved Aggrieved

Somewhat Somewhat Aggrieved Aggrieved



Total Total 1818 4141 2727 44

Maritimes Maritimes 2525 4040 2424 00

Quebec Quebec 2020 5050 2020 66

OntarioOntario 1616 4040 2828 33

Manitoba/ Manitoba/ SaskatchewanSaskatchewan

1212 3636 3737 11

Alberta Alberta 1515 3535 3333 66

British Columbia British Columbia 1919 3535 2828 33

Prairies most likely to think fed-prov working well Prairies most likely to think fed-prov working well

together while Quebecers most likely to disagreetogether while Quebecers most likely to disagree

My My province province is treated is treated with the with the respect it respect it deserves deserves in Canadain Canada





Total Total 1616 3030 3535 1111


Quebec Quebec 2424 3636 2424 1212


Manitoba/ Manitoba/ SaskatchewaSaskatchewann

2020 3939 2424 66


British British Columbia Columbia

2020 3030 4141 99

Quebecers most likely to believe Quebecers most likely to believe they’re least respected they’re least respected

The federal The federal government government interferes interferes in in provincial provincial decision-decision-makingmaking




Total Total 1515 3737 2525 77

Maritimes Maritimes 1515 37 37 2121 44

Quebec Quebec 2323 3636 2121 99



1111 3939 2525 22



Quebecers most likely to think Quebecers most likely to think Feds interference in provincial Feds interference in provincial

decision-making decision-making

The federal The federal government government does not does not transfer the transfer the fair amount fair amount of money to of money to my provincemy province




Total Total 2626 2929 2525 77


Quebec Quebec 3030 2626 2121 1111



1616 3838 2525 66



BCers most likely to feel they don’t BCers most likely to feel they don’t get fair amount from FEDS get fair amount from FEDS

Other Other provinces provinces get better get better treatment treatment than my than my provinceprovince





Total Total 2626 3232 2121 55


Quebec Quebec 3030 2929 1616 77



2525 5151 99 22


British British Columbia Columbia

3636 3333 1212 33

BC, Maritimers and Prairie most BC, Maritimers and Prairie most likely to feel others better treated likely to feel others better treated

People in my People in my province have province have strong strong influence on influence on federal federal government government decisionsdecisions




Total Total 2121 3535 2525 88


Quebec Quebec 2121 4141 2323 66


Manitoba/ Manitoba/ Saskatchewan Saskatchewan

3333 3939 2020 11



Ontarians most likely to feel they Ontarians most likely to feel they have strong influence on federal have strong influence on federal

government decisions government decisions

% AGREE% AGREE People in my People in my province have province have strong strong influence on influence on federal federal government government decisionsdecisions

People in my People in my province have province have strong strong influence on influence on provincial provincial government government decisionsdecisions

Total Total 3333 4747

Maritimes Maritimes 1818 3939

Quebec Quebec 2929 5252

OntarioOntario 4949 5050


2121 4646

Alberta Alberta 2424 4949

British Columbia British Columbia 1414 3232

Canadians feel they have more Canadians feel they have more influence on province than on influence on province than on

federal governmentfederal government

People in my People in my province province

have strong have strong influence on influence on

federal federal government government

decisionsdecisionsThe federal and The federal and

provincial provincial governmentgovernments are s are working well working well togethertogether

My province My province is is treated treated with the with the respect respect it it deservedeserves in s in CanadaCanada

The federal The federal governmegovernment nt interferes interferes in in provincial provincial decision-decision-makingmaking

The federal The federal governgovernment ment does does not not transfetransfer the r the

fair amount fair amount of of money money to my to my provincprovince e

Other Other provincprovinces get es get better better treatmetreatment than nt than my my provincprovincee

Strongly agreeStrongly agree 64.1 64.1 74.274.2 46.546.5 44.744.7 43.043.0

Somewhat agreeSomewhat agree 44.544.5 68.268.2 51.251.2 66.466.4 52.952.9

Somewhat disagreeSomewhat disagree 27.027.0 39.739.7 57.657.6 59.059.0 63.263.2

Strongly disagreeStrongly disagree 14.514.5 18.718.7 63.663.6 66.166.1 79.079.0

Perceived influence on federal Perceived influence on federal government reduces grievance government reduces grievance

Identification Identification

The federal andThe federal andProvincialProvincialGovernmentsGovernmentsare working wellare working welltogethertogether

MyMyprovince isprovince isTreatedTreatedwith thewith therespect itrespect itDeservesDeservesin Canadain Canada

People inPeople inMyMyProvinceProvinceHaveHaveStrongStrongInfluenceInfluenceon federalon federalGovernmetGovernmetdecisionsdecisions

The The FederalFederalGovernmentGovernmentinterferes ininterferes inProvincialProvincialDecisionDecisionmakingmaking

The federalThe federalGovernmentGovernmentdoes not\does not\transfer the transfer the fair amountfair amountof money toof money tomy province my province

OtherOtherProvincesProvincesget betterget betterTreatmentTreatmentthan mythan myprovinceprovince

Canadian onlyCanadian only 16,4%16,4% 13,5%13,5% 17,6%17,6% 11,1%11,1% 22,4%22,4% 20,5%20,5%

Canadian first but also from Canadian first but also from your provinceyour province

17,6%17,6% 13,1%13,1% 23,3%23,3% 13,6%13,6% 24,9%24,9% 25,7%25,7%

Equally Canadian and from Equally Canadian and from your provinceyour province

12,6%12,6% 11,3%11,3% 15,5%15,5% 9,2%9,2% 18,0%18,0% 22,3%22,3%

From your province but also From your province but also CanadianCanadian

17,1%17,1% 23,1%23,1% 23,1%23,1% 23,0%23,0% 34,2%34,2% 36,9%36,9%

From your province onlyFrom your province only 42,5%42,5% 49,4%49,4% 41,5%41,5% 41,3%41,3% 44,4%44,4% 39,2%39,2%

Canadian “only to equal” feel less Canadian “only to equal” feel less aggrieved aggrieved

The Canadian Grievance Index: A F-e-d-e-r-a-l Story Jack Jedwab February 11, 2010 For Face the...

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