Ontarians Need to See the Power of Their Own Government

Canada, Cities, Democracy, Education, Environment, Federalism, Fiscal Federalism, Health Care, Identity, Local Governance, Natural Resources, Ontario, Provinces, Service Delivery, Subnational Autonomy

Author: Jennifer Wallner – Another Ontario election has come and gone. And less than half the population noticed. In 2022, a sparse 4,701,959 people voted. With only 44.06% of eligible voters turning out, that election set the record for the lowest voter turnout ever in the province. This election, one where the province and Canada face real threats with devastating consequences from our closest ally, fared little better. Essentially, Ontarians issued a collective ‘meh’.

The Complexity of Abortion Laws: Federalism’s Impact on Women’s Reproductive Rights

Brazil, Canada, Decentralization, Federalism, Fiscal Federalism, Gender, Health Care, Identity, Service Delivery, Subnational Autonomy

Author: Shaoni Chakraborty – Abortion is a deeply complex and contentious issue that involves questions of healthcare, morality, legality, and gender rights. The regulation of abortion laws is often influenced by a country’s legal, cultural, religious and political frameworks. Federalism, which divides governmental powers between national and constituent unit governments, can have profound effects on the accessibility and implementation of abortion laws, which in federal systems can often differ significantly between levels of government.

Federalism: Medicine for a Broken Lebanon?

corruption, Decentralization, Democracy, Education, Fragility, Health Care, Infrastructure, Peacebuilding, Political Autonomy, Service Delivery, Subnational Autonomy

Author: Anthony Bou-chrouche – For almost 50 years, Lebanon has been plagued with problems of civil unrest due to a lack of social cohesion that stems from religious differences among the groups that comprise its population. The country is home to 18 different religious communities, each of which possess constitutionally enshrined levels of representation in Parliament. In the legislature, generally seats are divided equally between Christian and Muslim communities (with some exceptions like that of the representation of the Druze community).

What Key Issues Lie Ahead as Federations Move Forward with Digitalization?

Decentralization, digitalization, Federalism, Infrastructure, Service Delivery

SPECIAL SERIES: Digitalization of Public Administration in Federal Countries – Author: Maeva Anoma: Today, rapid and constant technological advancements allow us to access multiple services right from the comfort of our couches. For example, we can order groceries, shop for clothes, rent cars, and have products delivered directly to our homes. As these technologies increasingly help citizens in their daily lives, and become an integral part of the operations of business, people are beginning to expect similar levels of digital services from their governments. Digitalizing the public sector can allow federal countries to provide effective, efficient, reliable, and rapid services across different levels of government.

Does Government Digitalization Lead to Greater Centralization in Federations?

Australia, Brazil, Decentralization, digitalization, Federalism, Fiscal Federalism, Germany, Health Care, India, Mexico, Service Delivery, Subnational Autonomy, Switzerland

SPECIAL SERIES: Digitalization of Public Administration in Federal Countries – Author: Éric Desrochers: During the Digitalization of Public Administration in Federal Countries workshop, scholars and practitioners of government digitalization presented case studies touching on various aspects of the relationship between e-government and centralization in federal and quasi-federal countries.

The Relationship between Digitalization and Decentralization in Federations

Covid, Decentralization, digitalization, Federalism, Fiscal Federalism, Service Delivery, Spain, Subnational Autonomy

SPECIAL SERIES: Digitalization of Public Administration in Federal Countries – Author: Aracelly Denise Granja: The role digitalization plays within the governments of federal countries has been a rising topic of interest in public administration. Particularly, researchers, policymakers, and public servants have sought to determine whether there is a causal relationship between the digitalization of public administration in federations and increased levels of decentralization.

Benefit or Barrier? The Effects of Federalism on Digitalization in Public Administration

Brazil, Canada, Decentralization, digitalization, Education, Federalism, Forum, Germany, Health Care, Service Delivery, Subnational Autonomy

SPECIAL SERIES: Digitalization of Public Administration in Federal Countries – Author: Valere Gaspard. When discussing the process of the digitalization of public administrations in federal states, a fundamental question is continuously posed in the background: what is the relationship between federalism and digitalization?

The Enemy of Good Governance – The Relationship Between Corruption and Federalism

corruption, Decentralization, Democracy, Federalism, Local Governance, Revenue Sharing, Service Delivery, Subnational Autonomy

Author: Kamila Kolodziejczyk – We live in a world in which acts of corruption and abuse of power by individuals who actively leverage positions of official authority and influence for personal benefit challenge the ability of governments to effectively meet the needs of people. Despite the near-universal condemnation of corruption by citizens, media, politicians and international organizations, abuses continue to plague governance systems worldwide.

Digitalization in Federal Governments: Impacts on Service Delivery

Covid, Decentralization, digitalization, Federalism, Fiscal Federalism, Pandemic, Service Delivery

Author: Soumaya Marhnouj – In the age of digital technology, it has become the norm to rely more upon online applications for access to public services and programs as internet connectivity has proliferated. In Canada, 98% of households have access to fixed broadband internet access, and more than 87% have a home Internet subscription. Furthermore, over 88% of the population have a smartphone and 45% of them check their smartphone every 30 minutes. Not only are people more interconnected than ever, but technology is increasingly relied upon in a manner that would have been unimaginable just a few decades ago. We see this technological shift in almost every aspect of life; government actors, government services, and public information should be no exception. Federal and unitary governments worldwide are embracing – and being expected to embrace – technology in the exercise of their functions. Central and subnational governments can use these technologies to fulfill primary goals in service provision, including “improving efficiency and service quality by reducing service lead times, increasing transparency, and offering seamless service provision across organizations.” This practice is known as digital government.