Canadas Institutional Landscape And The Governments Ignorance Of Far :: essays research papers fc

Canadas Institutional Landscape and The Governments Ignorance of Farmers NeedsSaskatchewan farmers have been continually ignored in Canadasinstitutional landscape. Never has the situation been more evident as it iswith the possibility of Quebec separation. The Canadian governments ignoranceof farmers require has caused a cynical view of the political process in the eyeof farmers. One of the major sources of the cynicism is that Canadian federalinstitutions are developed so that most political of the clout is developed fromthe east. The eastern domination of the House of Commons, and indirectly theSenate, agent that Saskatchewan wheat farmers do not have a strong voice inCanadian political decisions. But what does the Saskatchewan lack ofrepresentation in Canadas political institutions in Ottawa mean? What canSaskatchewan wheat farmers do to rectify the situation? And, following a Quebecseparation what can wheat farmers do to uphold their livelihood? The intent ofthis report is to focus on the actions Saskatchewan wheat farmers can take toensure their success in the future. A focus on the recent political policydecisions by the federal government, the need for intrastate institutionalreform, and effects of a possible Quebec separation will all be analyzed.     The current institutional landscape of Canada has not acted favorablyfor Saskatchewan wheat farmers. The development of the institutions, ie. theHouse of Commons and the Senate, and the policies that have developed from theseinstitutions have continually ignored the needs of prairie farmers, emphasizingthe cynicism Saskatchewan wheat farmers have towards the political process. Theantipathy towards the political institutions has developed because of recentcost-cutting initiatives and deregulatory procedures by the government and bymis-representation of farmers needs in government today. The unsuccessful person ofSaskatchewan wheat farmers to express their needs in the Canadian politi calarena successfully, when compared to other constituencies, is based on the factthat Saskatchewans representation in Canadas political institutions is weak.The response is the development of policies contrary to what would be accepted byfarmers.     Saskatchewan wheat farmers, in accordance with most constituencies inthe west, have desired a institutional depart to the Upper House in Canada. In1867, when the institutions were developed, the goal was to develop twodifferent political "bodies". One, the House of Commons, would represent theCanadian people by means of elected representatives in a representation bypopulation scenario. The second, the Senate, would be a source of "sober secondthought." In its creation the senate was intended to nurse the ideals ofindividual regions. However, to the chagrin of Saskatchewan wheat farmers, theintended regional focus of the senate never developed and, hence, the senate has