1 Lecture 16: Public Policy: Comparing Canada and the U.S SOSC 152

2 A. Sources of Differences B. Characteristics of the Two Systems Different Types of Policy Processes C. Case Studies Chinese Students Free Trade Acid Rain

3 A. Sources of Differences 1. Political Context: personal strength of the leader level of popular attention to the issue and public opinion general direction of government policy - its economic priorities, previous decisions

4 2. Institutional Structure: how legislation moves through committees and assemblies significant differences between US Congress Committee system, where opposition party can hold up bills; in Canada, limited role for committees. 3. Interest Groups, political coalitions who are the actors, what are their resources? interest groups much more active in US system

5 4. Locus of Cleavages in the political system: regional congress/president, opposition/government Ideological 5. global factors: level of dependence or interdependence on issue affects government's autonomy and freedom of action

6 6. Content or nature of the issue: affects stakes of issue as perceived by the actors collective good (problems of free riders?) redistributive (class issue) moral issue--human rights issue regulatory or deregulatory 7. Policy Implementation: locus of implementation, level of decentralization

7 B. Characteristics of the Two Systems 1.CANADA Cabinet Committee and P.M. centered policy making system limited role for House of Commons. Financial feasibility of policy decided by Min. of Finance (and Treasury Board) Need to assess role of public opinion limited role of interest groups, particularly short-term interest groups. "Single issue constituencies" have no access to formal policy making channels public tends toward public protest Regional competition on most public policy major competition between East and West, or French non-French Much more sensitive to international pressures due to role of foreign investment less sensitive to broad strategic issues of global military power

8 2. UNITED STATES Separation of powers makes president/congress major cleavage. President tends to set or control agenda much bargaining between President and Congress Power of Single Issue Constituencies affect policy by lobbying Congress and targeting Congress system more open to influence of lobbies Congressional Committees locus of power on policy. Regular electoral cycle affects ebb and flow of policy policy highly influenced by re-election issues Highly sensitive to global perceptions of U.S. military power and influence less sensitive to international political economy

9 C. Case Studies Chinese students in the West after Tiananmen: ISSUE 1: Would Canada and U.S. give Chinese students in U.S. political protection risk was relationship with China great moral issue of human rights very public issue in both U.S. and Canada, level of outrage in both countries very high

10 a. Canadian Response: quiet and quick 4 weeks after Tiananmen, External Affairs called meeting of Sinologists, Chinese community leaders, and Dept. of Manpower and Immigration, to recommend policy. 30 June 1989, Cabinet and PM decide to grant work permits. permits to stay were turned into permanent residency.

11 b. American response: issue caught up in inter-party politics and fight between President and Congress Chinese students in US act as lobby group, fax attack to members of Congress calling for student bill. President Bush concerned about strategic issues and stable ties to China for Congress a human rights issue and after President sends Scowcroft twice in July and November 1989, Democrats use it against popular President. Congress passes student bill to take policy away from President President responds with Executive decree, grants wide rights to Chinese in US to keep issue in his hands

12 ISSUE 2: FREE TRADE NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement For Canada: enormous potential impact for Canada given external dependence, historically very sensitive issue, major challenge to Canadian sovereignty regional splits great, Ontario opposed, Quebec and West exporters to U.S. want to buy cheap U.S. goods.

13 PM-led process: Mulroney switches view after election, pushes through with parliamentary majority Liberal Party opposed, uses Senate to slow the bill labour unions, farmer organizations, involved in massive protests debates all over Canada in 1987, non-stop media issue other interest groups incorporated through federal commission led by former Liberal leader recruited to make issue non-partisan strong belief that GATT and U.S. too powerful, Canada needed to make a deal

14 US and Free Trade: issue never enters public consciousness or debate important only for interest groups. deregulatory policy so splits along sectoral lines, pulp and paper producers, farmers opposed, importers of raw materials and exporters to Canada supportive Would lower protective tariffs Political context of Republicans being pro-free trade than democrats, so Republican President plays major role.

15 Foreign trade is Executive affair as foreign policy issue, but Congress becomes locus of lobbying. President wants bill to go through with no amendments, avoid political fight Congress, particularly democrats somewhat protectionist, interest groups mixed, 50 presentations to Congress, 30 pro, 20 opposed. US response based on bargaining system between Pres. and Congress, no role for US public opinion, no ideological threat to state.

16 ISSUE 3: ACID RAIN transnational issue leads to transnational coalitions of environmentalists has no influence from Canadian regional politics Presidential exercises second face of power to keep issue off agenda U.S. domestic politics plays major role

17 For Canada: environment major issue since early 1980s, environment #1 issue in Canada powerful environmental groups black list non- supporting candidates "pin stripe" organization with high name recognition of members Ontario legislators very active on environment. high tax paying province pushing issue

18 Ontario industry had already begun to clean its air US industries harming Ontario and Quebec tourism, fishery, agriculture. unified federal-provincial position, with provinces clearly responsible for environment Transnational coalition of provincial premiers from Eastern Canada and governors of northeast states Federal government set up public information offices, "beachheads," public service announcements, tv ads, support from US groups

19 For US.: environmental groups strong regional interests dispersed but centered in mid-West industrial belt and in Kentucky and West Virginia who feared job loss. see maps

20 The Manufacturing Belt

21 Where Acid Rain Falls

22

23 US had begun to burn coal after Arab Oil Embargo Strong Congress under weak President Carter--as domestic issue, Congress makes laws. major political shift after Reagan retires, and Byrd resigns as Senate majority leader both had kept issue off agenda Byrd replaced by Mitchell of Maine. Also, Sununu moved to White House. Tip O’Neil as House leader. NE regions reduced its emissions, attacked coal lobby and mid-west on this issue. Bush passed Clean Air act of 1990.