Canada and multinational federalism: From the spirit of 1982 to Stephen Harper's open federalism

Abstract

Since the end of the Second World War, principles of diversity and multiculturalism have increasingly been codified in international law. The present article takes a closer look at the evolution of Canada's attitude towards the recognition of its multinational character over the past 25 years. The article shows that the more recent idea of "open federalism" put forward by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government as a recognition of multinationalism closely resembles the monist idea of the state that was promoted by former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Thus, contrary to what is being portrayed in political discourses, nothing much has changed over the last 25 years. Stephen Harper's "open federalism" remains largely inspired by philosophical elements of monism and does not contribute to making Canada a truly multinational state.