Canada: The State of the Federation 1987-88

Abstract

This is the third edition of the series Canada: The State of the Federation. The intention, as in previous volumes, is to survey recent events of importance to Canadian federalism and, in the light of these events, to comment on present-day and emerging issues affecting the federation. The previous editions covered the years 1985 and 1986, but because the second edition was delayed in appearance, this third edition is a double issue. It covers the years 1987 and 1988 in order to get back to our originally intended schedule of publication early each autumn. This year's edition departs from the format of previous editions which examined developments in particular provinces and ranged over a variety of concerns. It focuses instead upon the two major current issues which have dominated the federal-provincial agenda during 1987-88: the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement signed 2 January 198, and the Constitutional Accord approved by the 11 first ministers on 3 June 1987. In addition, a feature introduced in the second edition, a chronology of events in the previous year affecting the federal system, has been continued, but covers the two years 1986 and 1987.