The federal government likes to make its presence known. In fact, it is everywhere. Not content to take care of matters within its own jurisdiction, the government of Canada is becoming more involved in provincial and municipal matters.
The federal government has created the true 'nanny state' which is based upon the premise that citizens are too disadvantaged ( read 'stupid') to look after themselves so the politicians and bureaucrats will do it for them. But now the feds have taken this 'self sufficiency challenged' view of society one step further. Not only are individuals unable to run their own lives - provinces and municipalities are equally incapable of handling their own affairs without the help of 'Big Sibling'.
Federal Transport Minister David Collenette gave a good demonstration recently of how this policy of interference works. During January, Toronto had a some snow which happens from time to time in northern climes. The snow was a tad heavier than usual and things got a little slow. The honourable minister of trains, planes and automobiles now wants to know why the GATT's transportation systems frequently broke down during the bad weather. As money is not now, nor has ever been any object, the federal government will probably spend thousands of taxpayers' dollars having studies done and reports commissioned to find out the exact causes of the transportation breakdown. If you can't stand the suspense of waiting for the reports and studies to be concluded, Toronto's problems arose as a result of the fact that the volume of snow that fell in a short period of time was more than existing manpower and equipment could handle.
If the Transport Minister would stick to matters within the jurisdiction of the federal government, that would be one thing. But no, he wants to find out why the GO trains (then a provincial responsibility) and the subway ( a city of Toronto responsibility) had problems during the storm. We can only hope that Collenette doesn't draw on his experience as Defence Minister and disband the subway.
Transportation is not the only area of federal meddling. One of the main concerns that the majority of Canadians have is health care. Health care is a provincial responsibility, but the provinces are not responsible enough to run it. Now, however, the provinces are standing up to Ottawa arguing that they are capable of deciding upon health care spending and don't need the federal government to tell them how. Years of appeasing Quebec is resulting in all of the provinces demanding more control over areas that Ottawa currently administers and they will eventually get it. The federal government is slowly being reduced to a tax collector and a cheerleader ( as in 'Go Team Canada, Go!') The former can be done away with; the latter can be replaced by a good P.R. firm.
To paraphrase Thomas Paine, the 18th century political philosopher, good government is a necessary evil and bad government is intolerable. If Tommy were alive today and writing about Canada, he would probably have something to say about irrelevant government.