an

research initiative

Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation

Research

The Centre's research focuses on the evolution of the Canadian federation both as a political system and as a community. You can find the Centre's latest research publications as well as all past IRPP research on the Canadian federation below.

Fiscal Imbalance in Canada Twenty Years after the Séguin Commission

Fiscal Imbalance in Canada Twenty Years after the Séguin Commission

Marcelin Joanis

The Centre’s bulletins

Series

Resilient Institutions: Learning from Canada’s COVID-19 Pandemic

Resilient Institutions: Learning from Canada’s COVID-19 Pandemic

Charles Breton, Ji Yoon Han, David McLaughlin and Caroline Woodward

An Imbalanced Federation: The Unequal Distribution of Budget Constraints in Canada

An Imbalanced Federation: The Unequal Distribution of Budget Constraints in Canada

Olivier Jacques

Reimagining Canada as Inter-National: Understanding First Nations-Provincial Relationships

Reimagining Canada as Inter-National: Understanding First Nations-Provincial Relationships

Liam Midzain-Gobin, Caroline Dunton and Robert Tay-Burroughs

Rethinking Fiscal Federalism for the 21st Century

Rethinking Fiscal Federalism for the 21st Century

Series

The Federal Spending Power in the Trudeau Era: Back to the Future?

The Federal Spending Power in the Trudeau Era: Back to the Future?

Peter Graefe and Nicole Fiorillo

Closing the Implementation Gap: Federalism and Respect for International Human Rights in Canada

Closing the Implementation Gap: Federalism and Respect for International Human Rights in Canada

Alex Neve

The Living Tree: Contemporary Issues in Canadian Federalism Series

The Living Tree: Contemporary Issues in Canadian Federalism Series

Series

Amending the <em>Official Languages Act</em>: A New Vision of Bilingualism?

Amending the Official Languages Act: A New Vision of Bilingualism?

Mario Polèse

Elections During a Health Crisis: Voter Involvement and Satisfaction across Pandemic Elections in Canada

Elections During a Health Crisis: Voter Involvement and Satisfaction across Pandemic Elections in Canada

Allison Harell and Laura B. Stephenson

Identité et ressentiment : expliquer le soutien au programme fédéral de péréquation

Identité et ressentiment : expliquer le soutien au programme fédéral de péréquation

Olivier Jacques, Daniel Béland et André Lecours

Indigenous Self-Government in Yukon: Looking for Ways to Pass the Torch

Indigenous Self-Government in Yukon: Looking for Ways to Pass the Torch

Gabrielle A. Slowey

Federalism as a Strength: A Path Toward Ending the Crisis in Long-Term Care

Federalism as a Strength: A Path Toward Ending the Crisis in Long-Term Care

Carolyn Hughes Tuohy

Irregular Border Crossings and Asylum Seekers in Canada: A Complex Intergovernmental Problem

Irregular Border Crossings and Asylum Seekers in Canada: A Complex Intergovernmental Problem

Mireille Paquet and Robert Schertzer

A Resilient Federation? Public Policy Challenges for the New Decade

A Resilient Federation? Public Policy Challenges for the New Decade

Series

New Tools for Reconciliation: Legislation to Implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

New Tools for Reconciliation: Legislation to Implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Michael Hudson

An (Overdue) Review of Canada’s Fiscal Stabilization Program

An (Overdue) Review of Canada’s Fiscal Stabilization Program

Trevor Tombe

Canada’s Equalization Program: Political Debates and Opportunities for Reform

Canada’s Equalization Program: Political Debates and Opportunities for Reform

James P. Feehan

All Together Now: Intergovernmental Relations in Canada’s Labour Market Sector

All Together Now: Intergovernmental Relations in Canada’s Labour Market Sector

Andrew McDougall

Constitutional Law and the Politics of Carbon Pricing in Canada

Constitutional Law and the Politics of Carbon Pricing in Canada

Sujit Choudhry

Operationalizing Indigenous Consent through Land-Use Planning

Operationalizing Indigenous Consent through Land-Use Planning

Roshan Danesh and Robert McPhee

The Renewed Canadian Senate: Organizational Challenges and Relations with the Government

The Renewed Canadian Senate: Organizational Challenges and Relations with the Government

Emmett Macfarlane

Indigenous Self-Determination in Northern Canada and Norway

Indigenous Self-Determination in Northern Canada and Norway

Gary N. Wilson and Per Selle

A National Urban Policy for Canada? The Implicit Federal Agenda

A National Urban Policy for Canada? The Implicit Federal Agenda

Neil Bradford

Federalism and International Trade Policy: The Canadian Provinces in Comparative Perspective

Federalism and International Trade Policy: The Canadian Provinces in Comparative Perspective

Jörg Broschek and Patricia Goff

Universal Pharmacare and Federalism: Policy Options for Canada

Universal Pharmacare and Federalism: Policy Options for Canada

Colleen M. Flood, Bryan Thomas, Asad Ali Moten and Patrick Fafard

Coordinating Federalism: Intergovernmental Agenda-Setting in Canada and the United States

Coordinating Federalism: Intergovernmental Agenda-Setting in Canada and the United States

Jared J. Wesley

Les services de garde subventionnés : l’exception du Québec dans le contexte fédéral

Les services de garde subventionnés : l’exception du Québec dans le contexte fédéral

Gabriel Arsenault, Olivier Jacques et Antonia Maioni

British Columbia-Indigenous Nation Agreements: Lessons for Reconciliation?

British Columbia-Indigenous Nation Agreements: Lessons for Reconciliation?

Michael Hudson

The Emerging Policy Relationship between Canada and the Métis Nation

The Emerging Policy Relationship between Canada and the Métis Nation

Janique Dubois

A Federation within a Federation? Devolution and Indigenous Government in the Northwest Territories

A Federation within a Federation? Devolution and Indigenous Government in the Northwest Territories

Jerald Sabin

Sovereignty at an Impasse: The Highs and Lows of Quebec Nationalism

Sovereignty at an Impasse: The Highs and Lows of Quebec Nationalism

Jean-Herman Guay

Does Canadian Federalism Amplify Policy Disagreements?

Does Canadian Federalism Amplify Policy Disagreements?

Éric Montpetit, Erick Lachapelle and Simon Kiss

Indigenous Consent and Natural Resource Extraction

Indigenous Consent and Natural Resource Extraction

Martin Papillon and Thierry Rodon

Coming into Its Own? Canada’s Council of the Federation, 2003-16

Coming into Its Own? Canada’s Council of the Federation, 2003-16

Emmet Collins

Collaboration and Unilateral Action: Recent Intergovernmental Relations in Canada

Collaboration and Unilateral Action: Recent Intergovernmental Relations in Canada

Robert Schertzer, Andrew McDougall and Grace Skogstad

Bilateral Health Agreements between the Federal and Provincial/Territorial Governments in Canada

Bilateral Health Agreements between the Federal and Provincial/Territorial Governments in Canada

Gregory Marchildon

Carbon Pricing and Intergovernmental Relations in Canada

Carbon Pricing and Intergovernmental Relations in Canada

Tracy Snoddon and Debora VanNijnatten

Indigenous Peoples, Canada and the Possibility of Reconciliation

Indigenous Peoples, Canada and the Possibility of Reconciliation

David Newhouse

Provincial/Territorial Governments and the Negotiation of International Trade Agreements

Provincial/Territorial Governments and the Negotiation of International Trade Agreements

Christopher J. Kukucha

Canada’s Equalization Policy in Comparative Perspective

Canada’s Equalization Policy in Comparative Perspective

Daniel Béland and André Lecours

Harper without Jeers, Trudeau without Cheers: Assessing 10 Years of Intergovernmental Relations

Harper without Jeers, Trudeau without Cheers: Assessing 10 Years of Intergovernmental Relations

Christopher Dunn

COE Background

About the Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation

The Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation is a permanent research body within the Institute for Research on Public Policy. Its mission is to build a deeper understanding of Canada as a federal community.

Learn More

Forty years later, we’re due for another big rethink about Canada’s future

March 17, 2025

Forty years later, we’re due for another big rethink about Canada’s future

Read