Across the Aisle : Opposition in Canadian Politics

How Do Parties With Official Opposition Status Influence Canadian Politics? Across The Aisle Is An Innovative Examination Of The Theory And Practice Of Opposition In Canada, Both In Parliament And In Provincial Legislatures. Extending From The Pre-confederation Era To The Present Day, It Focuses On Whether Canada Has Developed A Coherent Tradition Of Parliamentary Opposition. David E. Smith Argues That Canada Has In Fact Failed To Develop Such A Tradition. He Investigates Several Possible Reasons For This Failure, Including The Long Dominance Of The Liberal Party, Which Arrested The Tradition Of Viewing The Opposition As An Alternative Government; Periods Of Minority Government Induced By The Proliferation Of Parties; The Role Of The News Media, Which Have Largely Displaced Parliament As A Forum For Commentary On Government Policy; And, Finally, The Increasing Popularity Of Calls For Direct Action In Politics. Readers Of Across The Aisle Will Gain A Renewed Understanding Of Official Opposition That Goes Beyond Stornoway And Shadow Cabinets, Illuminating Both The Historical Evolution And Recent Developments Of Opposition Politics In Canada.--pub. Desc. Chapter One: Opposition: 'somebody Has To Do It' -- Part Two: Parliamentary Opposition -- Chapter Two: From Coalition To Coalition, 1867-1920 -- Chapter Three: The Liberal Ascendancy, 1921-1956 -- Chapter Four: Minorities And Majorities, 1957-1992 -- Chapter Five: The Mill Of Opposition, 1993-2011 -- Part Three: Challenges For Parliamentary Opposition -- Chapter Six: Opposition, More Or Less -- Chapter Seven: Opposition In The Federation -- Chapter Eight: Whither Parliamentary Opposition? -- Part Four: Conclusion -- Chapter Nine: The Problem Of Parliamentary Opposition Today. David E. Smith. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "How do parties with official opposition status influence Canadian politics? Across the Aisle is an innovative examination of the theory and practice of opposition in Canada, both in Parliament and in provincial legislatures. Extending from the pre-Confederation era to the present day, it focuses on whether Canada has developed a coherent tradition of parliamentary opposition - David E. Smith argues that Canada has in fact failed to develop such a tradition. He investigates several possible reasons for this failure, including the long dominance of the Liberal party, which arrested the tradition of viewing the opposition as an alternative government; periods of minority government induced by the proliferation of parties; the role of the news media, which have largely displaced Parliament as a forum for commentary on government policy; and, finally, the increasing popularity of calls for direct action in politics - Readers of Across the Aisle will gain a renewed understanding of official opposition that goes beyond Stornoway and shadow cabinets, illuminating both the historical evolution and recent developments of opposition politics in Canada."--Pub. desc - David E. Smith argues that Canada has in fact failed to develop such a tradition. He investigates several possible reasons for this failure, including the long dominance of the Liberal party, which arrested the tradition of viewing the opposition as an alternative government; periods of minority government induced by the proliferation of parties; the role of the news media, which have largely displaced Parliament as a forum for commentary on government policy; and, finally, the increasing popularity of calls for direct action in politics - Readers of Across the Aisle will gain a renewed understanding of official opposition that goes beyond Stornoway and shadow cabinets, illuminating both the historical evolution and recent developments of opposition politics in Can

How do parties with official opposition status influence Canadian politics? Across the Aisle is an innovative examination of the theory and practice of opposition in Canada, both in Parliament and in provincial legislatures. Extending from the pre-Confederation era to the present day, it focuses on whether Canada has developed a coherent tradition of parliamentary opposition.

David E. Smith argues that Canada has in fact failed to develop such a tradition. He investigates several possible reasons for this failure, including the long dominance of the Liberal party, which arrested the tradition of viewing the opposition as an alternative government; periods of minority government induced by the proliferation of parties; the role of the news media, which have largely displaced Parliament as a forum for commentary on government policy; and, finally, the increasing popularity of calls for direct action in politics.

Readers of Across the Aisle will gain a renewed understanding of official opposition that goes beyond Stornoway and shadow cabinets, illuminating both the historical evolution and recent developments of opposition politics in Canada.

Contents 7 Preface 9 PART ONE. Introduction 17 1. Opposition: ‘Somebody Has to Do It’ 17 PART TWO. Parliamentary Opposition 37 2. From Coalition to Coalition, 1867–1920 37 3. The Liberal Ascendancy, 1921–1956 56 4. Majorities and Minorities, 1957–1992 76 5. The Mill of Opposition, 1993–2011 97 PART THREE. Challenges for Parliamentary Opposition 115 6. Opposition, More or Less 115 7. Opposition in the Federation 141 8. Whither Parliamentary Opposition? 158 PART FOUR. Conclusion 175 9. The Problem of Parliamentary Opposition Today 175 Notes 183 Bibliography 211 Index 233