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From Kyoto to the WTO: Evaluating the Constitutional Legitimacy of the Provinces in Canadian Foreign Trade and Environmental Policy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2005

Christopher J. Kukucha
Christopher J. Kukucha
Affiliation:
University of Lethbridge
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Abstract

Abstract. The Kyoto Protocol was a controversial issue within Canadian federalism, especially in Alberta, where the province considered a formal constitutional challenge regarding the implementation of the agreement. This option was not pursued, however, due to existing judicial precedent that limits the jurisdictional authority of the provinces in international affairs. Regardless, these rulings still suggest a level of constitutional ambiguity, which creates motivation for federal-provincial cooperation on foreign trade and environmental policy. As a result, highly valued formalized consultative mechanisms have developed in these issue areas during the past two decades. Ottawa's decision to ratify Kyoto, however, represented a significant departure from previous practices of cooperative federalism. In pursuing the protocol as part of his legacy agenda, Chrétien was aware of the provinces' tenuous constitutional status. It is important to note, however, that the resulting tension between both levels of government was atypical and does not threaten the viability of cooperative federalism in the near future.

Résumé. Le protocole de Kyoto a suscité de nombreuses controverses au sein du fédéralisme canadien, en particulier en Alberta où le gouvernement songea même à contester formellement la constitutionnalité de sa mise en oeuvre. En définitive, il a abandonné cette option en raison de précédents jurisprudentiels qui limitent la juridiction des provinces en affaires internationales. Ces décisions suggèrent néanmoins qu'il existe un certain niveau d'ambiguïté constitutionnelle propre à motiver une attitude de coopération fédérale-provinciale en matière d'environnement et de commerce extérieur. De ce fait, des mécanismes consultatifs très structurés ont été mis au point dans ces domaines au cours des deux dernières décennies. Or, la décision d'Ottawa de ratifier Kyoto contrastait nettement avec les pratiques antérieures de fédéralisme coopératif. En cherchant à faire du Protocole de Kyoto un élément de son héritage, Chrétien était conscient de la fragilité des arguments constitutionnels des provinces. Cependant, il est important de noter que la tension ainsi créée entre les deux niveaux de gouvernement était atypique et qu'elle ne menace pas la validité du fédéralisme coopératif dans l'avenir.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 38 , Issue 1 , March 2005 , pp. 129 - 152
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

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