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The article explores indications of the decline of democracy. It discusses the results of polls showing the falling popularity of democracy among the younger generation. It describes flaws in the democracy of Canada despite being one of the most stable democracies in the world. It also examines the Economist Intelligence Unit's democracy index which shows that the global score fell from 5.52 in 2016 to 5.48 in 2017.

The article offers a look at how the Canadian government staffed its military through recruiting volunteers at the outbreak of World War I, also known as the Great War. Topics covered include the number of Canadian Army Permanent Force members according to the book "Old Enough to Fight," the claims of the Canadian War Museum that most Canadian troops were not Canadian born and the minimum standards set by the army for volunteers willing to be infantry soldiers. INSETS: OLD ENOUGH TO FACE A FIRING SQUAD;BOY SOLDIERS.

The article discusses the efforts to solve inequality as of December 2013. Given example is the government of Canada which is trying to smooth out the differences in prosperity among regions through equalization payments. Countries that were successful in closing income gaps are mentioned including Denmark, Findland, Sweden, and Norway. INSETS: AT THE TROUGH;ARTFUL DODGERS;TRICKLING NOWHERE.

The article focuses on the political culture of Canada. It notes that Canadians recognized Tommy Douglas as the greatest Canadian which was decided at the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (CBC) Television's "The Greatest Canadian" show. It states that Canadians manifest a live-and-let attitude about social policies and like their government, Canadians keep an eye on the actions of business enterprises. Moreover, Canada does not possess one political culture for it differs from one region to another.

The article comments on the power held by members of the Canadian Parliament as of March 2006. Most government-watchers agree it was Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau who began the process that turned members of the parliament into nobodies. Under Pierre Trudeau close advisers, such as Keith Davey and Jim Coutts, accumulated enormous power. These unelected aides controlled access to the prime minister as well as the flow of information. It was just the start of the undermining of Parliament. INSETS: MPs WANT REFORM;CONFIDENCE TRICK;GENDER DEFICIT.

The article looks at the accountability issues in the government of Canada. The infamous Sponsorship Program ran for ten years. It cost taxpayers about $330 million, of which $147 million went to communication and advertising agencies for fees and commissions. Some of the money was stolen but, because the thieves did not leave a paper trail of their activities, nobody knows the full scale of the crime. INSETS: TOOTHLESS WATCHDOG;WHAT TO DO.

Focuses on the plan of the Canadian Alliance Party and the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada to merge. Reason for the need to merge the two political parties; Information on the formation of the two political parties; Effect of the merging parties on the political system; Views on the move of the political parties. INSET: MOVING ON.

Describes the life of politicians in Canada. Lynda Haverstock, Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan; Prime Minister Paul Martin; Stockwell Day, Leader of the Opposition from 2000 to 2002; Political career. INSETS: THE ODDS;A VERY CANADIAN COUP.

States that business influence in Canada appears at all levels of government in the country. Effect of the donations made by business enterprises to political parties on the policies of the government; Implications of this influence on the operations of business enterprises in the country; Events that show connection between donations and policy-making in the country; Move of Prime Minister Jean Chretien to enact Bill C-24 that will change the way political parties are funded. INSETS: SCHMOOZING;CONNECTIONS MATTER;FAILING THE SNIFF TEST.

Focuses on the decline of voter turnout at election polls in Canada during election day. Factors that contributed to the decline of voter turnout in the country; Reasons for the distrust of voters towards politicians; Electoral system in the country; Efforts to improve voter turnout during election. INSETS: DOWNWARD MOMENTUM;STAYING HOME IN DROVES.

Details the efforts in reviving the the Meech Lake Accord, conditions established by politicians of Quebec for signing the Royal Proclamation of the Canadian Constitution, on June 9, 1990. Meeting held by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney; Highlights of the agreement reached by premiers.

Traces the constitution-building process in Canada in 1864. Overview of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759; Dispute between the French and the English in 1776; Establishment of the Parliament of Canada on January 18, 1848.

Comments on the public services of the Canadian government as of March 2001. Job cuts in the public sector in the 1990s; Benefits of bureaucracy; Details on the consumer safety inspections conducted by the government in several industries. INSETS: BUREAUCRAT BURNOUT;OVER THE POUND;CANADA TOPS FOR NEW BUSINESSES;OVERZEALOUS BUREAUCRATS

Discusses the distribution of Canada's government grants among profitable business enterprises. Details on the recipients of grants and loans of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Human Resources Development Canada; Reason for the distribution; Public reaction to government decisions regarding the grants and loans. INSET: YOU SCRATCH MY BACK AND I'LL....

Discusses the decision by Canadian government to cut funding and to decrease social services programs as of March 2001. Information on the Services Improvement Act introduced by the Ontario government in 1997; Efforts taken by municipal governments to address the need for funding of social services programs; Increase in the difference between inflation and municipal taxes in 1990. INSETS: HEALTH AND EDUCATION BIG CONCERNS;TRAGIC DOWNLOADING;HAZEL'S SECRET;TEE'D OFF

Discusses the privatization of government functions in Canada. Background of several national leaders who aimed to reduce the role of the government; Changes in the concept of helping the poor in Canada; Type of privatization that involves a competitive bidding process. INSET: OFF THE RAILS.

Discusses the role and achievements of the Canadian government. Views on the purpose of the government; Discussion on public good; Factor that made Canada the world's largest debtor country on a per capita basis. INSETS: THE HOCKEY GOALIE;MODEST BEGINNINGS;THE POWER TO COMPEL.

Describes the Canadian politics and government. Election of the country's leaders; Power of the people to choose the person they want to lead the country; Primary reason of election; Illustration on how democracy in Canada works.

Focuses on the creation of a government in Nunavut, Canada in 1999. Problems which the government will face in Iqaluit; Social conditions in Nunavut; Challenges faced by Nunavut leaders. INSETS: How Is a Territory Different From a Province?;The Nuts and Bolts of Nunavut's Government;Flexibility a Must for Workers and Employers;Spirit of Independence

Points out some of the ways by which the Canadian government officials will listen to the voice of the people. Democratic principles that support the right of the people to be heard concerning their grievances; Discussion on the ways that could enhance the public's involvement in decision-making.

Discusses the role of media and the press in Canada to keep the government officials accountable. How the media covered the visit of Indonesia President Makam Suharto to Ottawa, Ontario; Why the media did not raise the arrest and pepper-spraying of students protesters during the visit; Violation made the government officials in arresting the students protesters; Illustration on the relationship of politicians and journalists.

Focuses on the notion of accountability and transparency in the Canadian government. Why is accountability an integral concept of democracy; Importance of transparency in government to make the officials accountable; Secrecy in the conduct of government officials in Canada; Discussion on the notion of government secrecy and the public's right to access information.

Focuses on the Canadian federal government's struggle to deal with its deficit. The transfer of many programs to the provinces; Funding cuts in the programs; Public desire (except in Quebec) for Ottawa to set national standards; Amount of the Canadian Health and Social Transfer from Ottawa to the provinces; Suggested activities. INSET: Revolt of the rich.

Discusses the annual Premier's Conferences in Canada. The meeting of provincial premiers to discuss common issues; Historical background of the meetings; The difficult dual role of the premiers to represent the interests of their provinces and their nation; Interprovincial trade as an example of the conflict created by this dual role; Suggested activities. INSETS: The media are not impressed;Fishy business.

Focuses on Canada's development of a structure of national and regional government to accommodate the needs of Canadians. Canada as a community of regions divided by geography, race, religion, and economic power; The ongoing Canadian debate over the assignment of federal and provincial powers; The four-decade pattern of wealthier provinces attempts to cut into the role of federal government; Lists countries that are federations; Agreement to create a new social union; Suggested activities. INSETS: Who does what;Under threat of war;Jokes Canada;Stronger Canada

Describes how much power is given the Prime Minister and the premiers in the Canadian system with the rule of party discipline. Examples of how the system works and those who have tried to work independent of it; The parliamentary party system concentrated in the Prime Minister's Office; The importance of political parties and how they help members of Parliament organize themselves to govern. INSETS: Policy formation.;Insiders and outsiders.;The price of dissent..

Discusses Canadian politics and governance. Donations made by the business community to Canadian politicians; Risks faced by Canadian government-run social programs; Expectations of Canadians on the government. INSETS: THE CHILL EFFECT;OFF THE RADAR.

Discusses the outcome of the 1864 Quebec Conference concerning the political system of Canada. Opposition to the Confederation; Debate among politicians in Nova Scotia; Advantage gained by the pro-Confederation camp.

Announces that responding to public concerns about immigrant numbers, Canada has changed the focus of who will be allowed into the country. How the number of immigrants will be cut; What the changes do not alter; What Immigration Minister Sergio Marchi proposed to make future immigration `more affordable and sustainable.' INSETS: Immigration policy in a nutshell.;Where do they go?.

Focuses on the corrupt practices of government officials in Canada. Percentage of Canadians who believe that the political systems in the country are highly corrupt; Position of federal politicians on the Ipsos- Reid survey that looked at the professions trusted by Canadians; Events that show corrupt practices of government officials in the country. INSET: RULES FOR THE ETHICALLY CHALLENGED.

Presents a historical account of the creation of the Charlottetown Accord, constitutional reforms for Canada, on August 28, 1992. Outline of the consensus reached by delegates; Referendums.

Presents a historical account of the creation of the Calgary Declaration, proposed constitutional reform for Canada, on September 16, 1997. Refusal of Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard to be involved in the process; Details of the events that led to the declaration's formation.

Compares the national referendum toward the Meech Lake and Charlottetown constitutional reform accords, in 1990 and 1992, respectively, in Canada. Reasons for the failure of the Meech Lake Accord; Voting against the Charlottetown Accord.

Details the action taken by Premier Clyde Wells of Newfoundland on June 20, 1990 toward the Meech Lake Accord, the conditions set by Quebec politicians for signing the Royal Proclamation of the Canadian Constitution. Consultations held by Wells; Events that led to the fallout of the accord.

Features Elijah Harper, the lone Aboriginal Member of the Manitoba Legislature. Stand on the Meech Lake Accord, conditions set by Quebec politicians for signing the Royal Proclamation of the Canadian Constitution; Impact of the accord on Aboriginal rights.

Reports the opposition to the Meech Lake Accord by Canadian premiers in November 1989. Basis of their contentions against the accord; Action taken to save the accord.

Deals with the accord reached by politicians in Quebec on June 3, 1987 in connection to the signing of the Royal Proclamation of the Canadian Constitution. Conditions for signing the constitution; Impact of the accord on the federal government.

Presents a historical account of a unilateral patriation between the Liberal and Conservative parties of Canada on October 24, 1980. Debate on then Victoria Prime Minister Piere Trudeau's constitutional package; Conditions for a new constitution; Court challenges initiated by Quebec, Newfoundland and Manitoba.

Presents a brief history of the Inuit people in Nunavut after their first contact with European explorers in 1500. Information on the trade between Europeans and the Inuit; Problems faced by the Inuit in the 1920s and 30s; Information on the independent government granted to Nunavut in April 1999. INSET: NUNAVUT TIMELINE.

Focuses on the unfortunate reputation of the public image of the Senate in Canada as a place where politicians are rewarded for doing nothing. How the Senate could be so much more; Its creation in 1867 as a place where regional interests could be protected; How the Senate image has been formed through the years; Suggestions for reform and a need to determine how that is to be done. INSET: How to get there..

The article focuses on Canadians' concerns on the political views of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. It states that because of their concerns, Canadian voters have twice refrained from giving Harper a majority government. It also mentions that the Harper administration is not yet complying with the orders from two Canadian courts to ask the U.S. to release Omar Khadr, a Canadian citizen captured by the U.S. in Afghanistan, and was accused of killing an American.

The article reports on some of the actions that the government of Canada may do to diversify its trade and investment. The author discusses the role of the government to boosts its economic capability by broadening its trade and investment through the North American Free Trade Agreement. It also suggests that diversification will likewise reduce Canada's dependency on the United States.

Provides information on the disgust expressed by Canadians at the misuse of taxpayers' money. Description of the political system in Canada; Criticisms against the corrupt provincial governments in the country; Percentage of Canadians who trust their politicians.

Features the two political parties in Canada which plan to merge. Development of the Progressive Conservative Party; Reason for the creation of the Canadian Alliance Party in 2000; Implications of the merge parties on the political system of the country.

Describes how the National Hockey League predicted the outcome of a referendum on the separation of Quebec from Canada in 1995.

Presents the opinion of Bloc Quebecois leader Lucien Bouchard on a referendum on the separation of Quebec from Canada in 1995. Indication of a no and yes vote.

Explains the implication of the seats won by the Bloc Quebecois party in a federal election in Canada in February 1993. Resignation of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney; Separation of Quebec from Canada.

Outlines the Calgary Declaration, proposed constitutional reform for Canada. Protection of equal rights; Equality of status of provinces; Protection of Aboriginal rights.

Deals with the letter issued by former Victoria Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau denouncing Lucien Bouchard, the Premier of Quebec, on February 12, 1996. Reaction of Bouchard to the criticism.

Outlines the findings of the Spicer Commission regarding the political ignorance of Canadians in 1990.