Focus on institutions

1
Focus on institutions

• American pessimism prevent tyranny
• Limited government weak government
• British sanguinity strong government,
  centralized power
• Accountability

2
American-style municipal government

• Limited functions
• Fragmented power
• Limited accountability

3
INSTITUTIONS WHATS COMING UP

• The place of municipal government
• History of municipal institutions Where we went
  wrong
• Analysis of municipal institutions
• How Winnipeg is governed

4
Federal government

• Opposite of unitary, three levels instead of two
• National or federal government
• Regional governments provinces, states cantons,
  Länder
• Three governments for every community. Hows that
  possible?

5
THE FEDERAL SYSTEM
6
Federal system II
7
Federal system III
8
Definitions

• Municipal government
• Local government All of the above school
  boards
• The local state All of the above federal
  provincial
• Bylaws
• Regulations

9
Provincial supremacy

• Section 92 of the Canadian Constitution Act
• Municipal institutions in the province
• Creatures of the provinces
• Toronto amalgamation
• Winnipeg 1971, 1976, 1986, 1992, 1996, 2004

10
Consequences

• Authority comes from the province, not the
  people
• Functions of municipal government limited

11
Legalistic rigidity

• Very detailed legislation
• How they may organize themselves
• What they may and may not do
• How they may and may not do it
• When they may and may not do it
• Leaves few options for response to electorate
• Examples job descriptions, records management

12
Municipal legislation

• Written and passed by provincial government
• Blanket municipal act
• Different rules for each category of municipality
• Charter or act for a single city
• City of Winnipeg Charter Act, 2003