Lecture Notes: A Beginner's Guide to Canada - Week 4

Administrative Details

• Exam Information
  • First test on Friday, October 6th.
  • Available from 6 AM, duration: 1 hour.
  • Covers material from Weeks 1 to 4.
  • Contains 60 questions.
  • Complete on OWL platform.
  • No aids allowed.

Lecture Topic: Canada's Political Economy

• Focus on Harold Innes and the development of the Staples Theory.

Review from Last Week

• Canadian Political System
  • Canada's democracy scores highly globally.
  • Influences from both the United Kingdom (Westminster system) and United States (federalism).
  • Issues identified:
    • Concentration of Power: Power centralized in the Prime Minister, Cabinet, and Supreme Court judges.
    • Decline in Political Participation: Decreasing voter turnout and engagement in formal political processes.
    • Rising political protests and declining confidence in political leaders, e.g., PM Trudeau's confrontation with protesters post-COVID.

Introduction to Political Economy

• Definition: The intersection of politics and economics and its impact on societal structures.
• Relevance: Controls distribution of power and wealth, affecting societal inequality and political function.
• Field of Study: Courses available, e.g., taught by Professor Adam Harms.

Staples Theory

• Originator: Harold Innes, Canadian political scientist.
• Concept: Describes Canada's economy as based on staples, crucial for understanding political and economic systems.
• Influence on Canadian Life: Examines development and current state of Canadian society.

Upcoming

• Examination of Staples Economy and its effects on Canadian life historically and presently.