Harper's Legacy on Federalism: "Open Federalism" or Hidden Agenda?

During the 2005 federal electoral campaign, Conservative leader Stephen Harper announced what he called a "Charter of Open Federalism" to guide relations between his future government and the provinces, offering to put an end to what he described as centralizing federalism. However, ten years later, once three consecutive Conservative governments had elapsed, the state of intergovernmental relations in Canada was precarious. The Conservatives may have used the "open federalism" promise as a cover for a vast program of federal withdrawal from social policy, and centralization of economic and security policies. This doublespeak stressed relations with the provinces and minority nations to the point that the Liberal government formed in November 2015 has taken explicit distance from this legacy to reestablish healthy intergovernmental relations. Confirmation of this project is still a work in progress. The Liberals first year in office was crucial to assess whether continuity or change will prevail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]